Monthly Newsletter
From the Pastor's Study
Several reminders:
Follow the happenings of the church at Sedleybaptist.org and you can also read my thoughts on things several times a week, to see my thoughts just click on Pastor's Study Blog.
You can also look up Sedley Baptist on Facebook and join the Fan page and receive updates via Facebook. It is a great way to interact with others from the church and share prayer requests.
We will have a Sermon Series on the Holy Spirit and then a series on Prayer coming in September on Sunday Mornings. Also some might find interest in learning about cults starting on September 8th on Wednesday Evenings.
I wrote this in my blog (From the Pastor's Study) a week or so ago and received many positive comments on it so I thought I would share it in the newsletter this month. I hope and pray this makes us all think about what is beautiful.
A couple of weeks ago I spent seven days at Nags Head N.C. at the beach relaxing with my family. While we were there, my son (Luke) who is 8 began collecting seashells. He would find them, then run up and throw them into a pile. He would then play in the water some more and find more and run and put them in the pile. I began looking at what he was getting and noticed that he was finding broken pieces of shells, but they were also strange looking. I decided that I would walk down to the water and show him the ones he should be getting. While he was pulling out the broken and strange pieces and I was only looking for whole and perfect looking shells. I then found myself telling him not to take the broken pieces because they were not whole and perfect. Then it hit me, so I asked him why he was picking the ones that were broken and not whole. He proceeded to tell me that he was picking them because they were cool, pretty, and he just liked them. I was looking for those that were whole and just perfect and he was getting the beautiful ones with pretty color and crazy shapes.
God taught me a lesson that day and the lesson I learned was this: I want to be more like my son who was much more like Jesus than I because he was finding the beauty in the broken pieces and I was only looking for the whole and perfect. He was seeing the beauty in everything and I was missing so much. How many times do we only look for the perfect and miss out on all the beauty around us.
Sometimes the broken things are very beautiful: Mark 14:3 -"While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head." But some were indignantly remarking to one another, "Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor. And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
Too often I am more like Judas, the one who was the one who became indignant, than I care to recognize and realize. I wrongly thought that things are only beautiful when they are whole and perfect and not when they are broken and poured out. Today, let us all find the beauty in the same things the Lord does, those things which are broken and beautiful.
As always we are Reaching, Moving, Building, and Serving for Christ!
Pastor Jim
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Thought for
Meditation
By: Ashby Blythe
Is the year 2012 the end of the world? I don't think so. The Bible speaks of world without end and seedtime and harvest. I'm not a prophet, but I am a believer in Bible prophecy. I see it everyday.
When Jesus gave the signs of the times, He was asked when these things would be. He said man, not the son of man did not know, only the Father would know.
I think the end of the age is near now (not the end of the world). For the Bible says Jesus will rule the world for a thousand years.
Israel was promised that when they came home they would never be cast out again. They became a free state in 1948.
Ezekiel predicts armies will come against Israel from the north but a massive earthquake will occur and most of the armies will be destroyed and it will take years to bury the dead and burn their weapons.
If America wants to survive our leaders must nip the situation in the bud before it's too late and not go to sleep like it did when Japan attacked. We must be prepared to meet our God. I believe God is ready to take control.
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Mission Friends
Our missionary for the month of August is Marshal Bundren, who lives in Portage, Indiana, on Lake Michigan. Mr. Bundren works as a chaplain to the crews of cargo ships at the Burns International Harbor.
We learned about how Mr. Bundren uses a 15-passenger van to take crewmen without transportation to shop, see a doctor or dentist, sightseeing, to church, or to the Seafarer's Center. While at the center, crewmen can relax, play pool, or phone home. They can also receive a Bible that is available in more than 60 languages.
We learned that Mr. Bundren gets church members to bake homemade cookies to hand out at the center. We pretended to be members of Mr. Bundren's church and baked chocolate chip cookies for the crewmen who come the Seafarer's Center. We also pretended to be the crewmen when it was time to eat the cookies.
We talked about how long some people are out to sea on the cargo ships. We talked about how sometimes they are out to sea during the holidays. We learned that Mr. Bundren gets people to donate items through "Christmas in August", which he wraps up in boxes. He then asks the cargo ships' captains if he can hide the packages on the ships so that the crewmen will have gifts to unwrap at Christmas. We wrapped up some of the items on Mr. Bundren's list and pretended to hide them on the ship (our inflatable boat). We took turns pretending to be the tugboats that push the ships into and out of the ports.
We talked about how ships float in the water. We explored "sink vs. float" with various items in a bucket of water. We also made paper "portholes" filled with paper water and sea life as our craft.
At the end of our session, we pretended to be the crewmen again and unwrapped the Christmas gifts we found hidden on our ship. We took turns saying our closing prayer, thanking God for our families, friends, and our missionaries. We hope to see everyone at our next meeting, September 12th!
Vicki Felts & Penny Hart
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Children in Action
The Children in Action met on Sunday, August 8 during worship service. There were six children in attendance.
Our meeting started by saying our:
Motto: Send Me! Isaiah 6:8
Verse: I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.. Philippians 4:13
Pledge: As a member of Children in Action, I will pray for missions, give to missions, learn about missions, and do missions through the power of Christ.
Our scripture verse for this month was read: This is how you should pray. Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13)
We then had prayer.
Anita asked the children if they remembered when, at the February meeting, they talked about the Olympics and had mailed cards and letters to Alan Au in Canada. She read a letter they had received from him thanking them for their cards and letters. (The letter is on the bulletin board.)
This month we learned about Marshal Bundren, who serves as the Director of the International Seafarer's Ministry at the Port of Indiana on the shores of southern Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the U.S. Native Americans called it "Michi Gami" which means "Great Lake or Big Lake". The St. Lawrence Seaway was built so ships from other countries can navigate from the Atlantic Ocean to Burns Harbor. This is where Mr. Bundren meets seafarers and tells them about God and how much He loves them.
We also learned about Christmas in August and how we can help with this project. We read a story "Shh! It's A Surprise", about how Mr. Bundren gets cards and gifts to the seafarers that are not at home at Christmas. They are on a ship on the ocean.
Next a press conference was held with a reporter interviewing Mr. Bundren about his job at the harbor. At the end of the interview he told the reporter he loved his job because it was wonderful being able to share Jesus to the world right in your own backyard. He also stated that he greets the whole world and never leaves home.
The group in unison read the scripture.
We read a letter from Mrs. Elizabeth Wiley, the missionary that started Christmas in August. It made us realize how it has grown and the number of people that receive gifts since it was started over eighty year ago.
Christmas ornaments were made for our Children in Action tree in the fellowship hall with items that missionaries Pearline and W.A. Burns had on their wish list. They are at the Savannah Baptist Center in Savannah, Ga. This is like an angel tree at Christmas. We would appreciate it if you would help fill our bag and will be glad to bring another to fill if this one overflows. This will continue until our next meeting.
We also signed Christmas cards to send to Mr. Bundren to give to the seafarers.
The Blessing and refreshments ended our meeting.
Thank you for your help.
Anita Felts & Carol Simms
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WMU
Women on Mission met on August 10, 2010 with 5 members present.
We read our Watchword and had our program on Missionary Eyes and Heart for Wyoming. Don Walen, the Southern Baptist Convention's church planting and evangelism strategist
and the churches with whom he works have the challenge on how to reach new residents
and impact peoples lives.
An estimated 96% of Wyoming residents do not have a personal relationship with Jesus and 56% have no connection with a church, and 44% who do attend church, attend Mormon and other non-Christian churches. Wyoming Southern Baptist is the largest Evangelical group in Wyoming but make up less than 2% of the population.
Don says "We only need missionary eyes to see the opportunity and a missionary
heart to respond to the needs". Don and his wife Carol are true examples of what it
means to have a missionary heart.
We made a donation to Children in Action for their Christmas in August project.
Joan Munford
WMU Director
Congratulations to Mary Ann and Brad Turner on the birth of their daughter, Ali Makenna born on July 1 weighing 7 lb. 5 oz and 20" long. Big sister is Elana and the proud grandparents are Emma & Wayne Turner and Joe & Penny Mobley.
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Bits & Pieces
Chance is inevitable except from a vending machine.
The first three letter of diet is die.
A rooster may crow but it's the hen that delivers the goods.
So long,
Reverend Funny Bone
Remember in Prayer!
Harold & Jane Bartlett, Phyllis Barton, Melissa Bassey, Quita Belden, Ashby Blythe, Juanita Burgess, Capps Family, Richard Copas, Armand & Naoko, Alisha & Tim Detrich, Roger Drake, Cilda Edwards, Jen Glass, Hoyle & Jean Green, Jimmy & Mitzi Lusk, Morgan Munford, Donnie & Sue Ann Raiford, Susan Robertson, Rhoten and Zeno family, Cecil Tillery, Leatha Whitley, Ronnie Whitley, Carolyn Williams.
Sylvia Allison, Joe Anderson, Bill Bailey, John Belden, Sylvia Bilby, Junior Blythe, Lena Blankenship, D. J. Boone, Peggy Brady, Judy Branche, Tammy Britt, Dale Bryant, Roy Bryant, Tom Bullock, Robin Bulls, Dot Bunting, J. T. Burgess, George Carpenter, May Carr, Barbara Clapp, Richard Cooke, Calvin Cosby, Angela Dentiste, Walter Drake, Patsy Draper, Scott Earls, Bob Ebert, Barbara Edwards, Brian Edwards, Gina Edwards, Peggy Edwards, Richard Edwards, Louise Ellis, Jimmy Foster, Carolyn Funkhouser, Skip Gambill, Martha Gibson, Dawn Glass, Aaron Graham, B.B. Gray, Suzette Gregor, Jerry Halsey, Jimmy Harris, Louise Harrup, Judy Hatfield, Angela Jeffries, Nancy Jenkins, Ada Johnson, Iola Joyner, Peyton Kea, Karen Kinney, Ellen Lawson, Carol Layer, Lena Lee, Davis Ludwick, Marriages that are struggling, Cathy Matthews, Alan McDonald, Rhonda Modlin, Cathy Morris, Syvilla Morris, Elizabeth Parker, Seamaeyer Parr, Dale Phipps, Marie Raiford, Mary Raiford, Roberta Raiford, Family of Sylvie Raiford, Jim Rainey, Rosa Rainey, Madeline Ramirez, Angel Ricks, Connie Rowe, Dan Sadler., Sr Ramona Sadler, Jenna Salisbury, Larry Shaffer, Gus Simmons, Elizabeth Stickle, Gracie Story, Barbara Taylor, Kaitlin Travis, Durwood Vaughan, Ruth Vaughan, Keith Vickers, Joe Volvo, Belin Watson, Sherry Watson, Katherine Weaver, Jerry Williams, Ralph Williams, Ross Wolfe, Jane Womack, Alan Ray Worrell, families of Doris Richards, Joyce Edwards Bridgers & Bill O'Brien
Happy Anniversary!
2 M/M Spencer Carter
12 M/M David Bradshaw
15 M/M Jay Felts
16 M/M Carlton Whitley
18 M/M Jason Alstatt
19 M/M Bruce Carr
21 M/M Irving Malcolm
24 M/M Willie Bulls
25 M/M Charles Kitchen
Happy Birthday!
2 Beverly Branche
Diane Burgess
5 James Bulls
6 Juanita Drake
9 Brenda Bradshaw
Kay Johnson
12 Pat Harrell
13 Joey Gardner
Meredith Harrell
Brad Turner
14 Wesley Burgess
17 Jean Turner
18 Terri James
Mark Whitley
20 Scott Felts
Shara Kitchen
John Marshall
21 Ashley Turner
23 Carter Brittle
Gracie Malcolm
24 Juanita Burgess
25 Toot Brittle
Stephanie Rose
28 Teresa Boyd
Susan Osburn
29 Paul Wellons
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Upcoming Events
Church Picnic -
Sunday, Sept. 26th at the Bronco Club
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Deadline for information to go in the October newsletter is September 22nd. Please call Phyllis Bradshaw (562-2455) or Carol Simms (562-2691) or e-mail to edandcarolp@verizon.net or sedleybird@peoplepc.com