THANKSGIVING EVE 2004

The older I get, the faster these holidays come around. I find it very difficult to comprehend that we are swiftly closing out the year of 2004 and will soon be in 2005. Can you imagine? 2005 years. Who would have thought that we would have lived in two different centuries and still be pressing on the 'upward way'!
I pray that you all will have a great holiday season this year. We in the church office wish you the best as you prepare to enjoy a day of thanksgiving tomorrow, and then to be caught up in the Christmas rush. It is still exciting to me to feel the spirit of Christmas. It reminds me when I was a little boy back in the late 30's and was enthralled by all the Christmas decorations, the fancy toys, the good eats, and the little bag of fruit and candy that my church would give out at the annual church Christmas party. We have so much more these days, but I was very proud to get the little bag of fruit, such as an apple, a banana, some nuts, and a candy cane. And often, there would be a little toy of some sort. Exciting days. I wish that we could all recapture those feelings now, here nearly 70 years later. Something has happend over the years, we have been accustomed to too much of a material nature, and our children will never have that feeling which we had. Today it is too much, too often, and very seldom truly appreciated. But, I do appreciate knowing you, and hope that these ramblings will show you that we are seeking to have an 'exciting church, where people really do love one another.'
Come regularly to our services if you are nearby, and if you are some distance away, when you go to your church to enjoy the Lord's Day, remember to say a little prayer for us at FBC North.
God loves you, and so do WE..

Thanksgiving Week is Here!

Welcome once again to our Web Log page. We are happily anticipating the big Turkey Day this coming Thursday. As one of our little children told me in church a few Sundays ago when I asked him what he was most thankful for during this season, "TURKEY"! I suppose we all are very thankful for the food that we eat and the clothes that we wear, and the great time of family fellowship around the Thanksgiving Day meal. But we should most of all be thankful for our Heavenly Father, who has given to us eternal life through Jesus Christ, His precious Son, and our precious savior. Now when this great week is over, Christmas is just ahead. Shall we be thankful and grateful for all that this season means.
Even with the situation in the Middle East, we can still trust in God to do what is right. Life goes on, and we are still challenged with the commission to tell others about Jesus.
Our church is an exciting place these days. Everyone seems to be fairly well satisfied, and only a few complaints from time to time about mostly insignificant happenings. We have rejoiced in the going home of our good friend and church member, Brother Windred Bolin. Words cannot express how much we admired him, and how much we shall miss him. We ask your prayers for his precious wife, Violet, and for the family members who are bereaved.
We are now in the process of searching for a Minister of Music and Youth for our church. This will be a full-time staff position, and we are going through a number of resumes that have been sent in response to our putting out the word. Will you join us in prayer that the right man will soon become available?
So, I pray that you will have a happy Thanksgiving Day celebration around your home and don't eat too much of that bird. As for me, I am looking forward to the ham!

THANKSGIVING MONTH

Well, good day to you all, and I trust that you are praising the Lord from whom all blessings really and truly do flow.
Last post I talked about the Homecoming, and now I can report that we had a great time of fellowship, preaching, food, and had a beautiful day for it all. A very large crowd attended, and the food line was out the door into the yard! Rev. David Laird did an outstanding sermon, and we enjoyed having him back. Just think, this church has been busy for one hundred and eleven years of service to the community and for the Lord
Since our Youth Minister resigned, I have been busy calling and writing to Baptist schools to see if we can get a new staff position of Minister of Music and Youth filled. So far we have received more than a dozen resumes from all over, and all seem to be well qualified for the job that have here. Now the personnel committee will have to sort them out, have them come for interviews, etc., and see which one the Lord has for us. We decided to combine the position of minister of music with the minister of youth into one full-time position, and will offer a fairly reasonable salary, along with a nice home, just behind the church. Please join us in prayer that this position will be filled very quickly. And pray for the Personnel Committee in their deliberations over the resumes.
A dear church member and friend has gone to be with the Lord. Brother Windred Bolin died Sunday, and will be buried on Thursday, Nov. 18th. Windred was a precious soul, a great man, and a good friend. He and his wife, Vi, were a blessing to our church. Now we need to remember Vi and the children in our prayers in the days to come.
Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving Day celebration around your home next week. We have so many things to be thankful for, especially for our Lord and Saviour. Would you believe that my sweet wife already has our Christmas tree up and decorated! There is something special about this season of the year.
Until next time, may God be with you in every way,
Sincerely Bro. Don

Our church has been an exciting and interesting place since I posted last. We are busy getting ready for the annual Homecoming Celebration Day, which is day after tomorrow, November 7th. As is always the case, we are looking for a large crowd of members, former members and friends of the church from all over. This church will be celebrating one hundred and eleven years of existence, and has had a great number of folks who will be coming for the fellowship and worship program, to be followed by the dinner-on-the-grounds, which is not on the grounds any longer, but in the large and comfortable fellowship building that has been especially prepared for this great day. Rev. David Laird, former member of this church, and now a retired minister, will be our guest speaker. If you are nearby and can, please come on and join us. If not, please pray for us on this special day.
We are in a state of surprised shock what with the recent resignation of our Minister to the Children and Students. Yes, John and Karla Mew have decided to leave us and we are all so sad, because John has done an outstanding job with our youth and children since his coming on staff. They are a sweet couple, and our love and prayers will surely go with them into their new ventures. That is the problem oftentimes, just when you are getting to know someone, they move away. We really do hate to see them go, but are trusting in our Lord to care for them in the days to come.
Activities picking up now that we are in the fall season, not only Homecoming, but we have had a great Fall Festival for all [planned and led by John Mew] and we will soon be getting ready for Thanksgiving, and then, of course, Christmas time!
Please continue to pray for us as we now are seeking a Minister of Music and Youth, a combined position that we would like to have filled soon. Pray that our Lord has a music and youth staff member picked out for us, and we will have him or her on staff very soon. All the winter programs that have been planned are still on schedule, and the Youth are going snow skiing in early 2005. I believe that Brad and Lori Creech are going to lead that group trip.
Well, guess that is about all for now, just wanted to keep in touch and let you know that the FBC of North is praying for each person that reads these words, especially and I praying for you. Please pray for us, and send us an email from time to time telling us what God is doing in your life, we would be glad to share it with you. fbcnorth@tds.net
Just click on that and write us a note.
Till later, May God bless you and yours, and may we serve Him as never before.