YEC '08

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YEC '08

YEC '08 was WAY COOL!!!
This was the first time I had ever gone to YEC and I can tell you now that it is not the last. We had a great time and I can't say enough how awesome it is to see a group of youth that size there to praise God. Most adults, I am sure, will not ever get to experience anything like it.
The first thing I want to say to the adults is ... The 80's are back. These kids are dressing like we did and rocking it out. Crazy? Yes, to say the least. So get out your clippers and cut yourself a mohawk, grow it while you can and if you still have your youthful locks, hold your head upside down; spray it, wax it, or hot glue it; take a nap on it; and rock it out because its not just the girls that want to have fun. Yeah, they played Cindy Loper's song.
Anyhow, the conference was about being CONSUMED. And I am proud to say that it was not just a topic relevant to the kids. The speaker noted that we can become consumed by our desires, and to alot of teens, they can be consumed with wanted that perfect grade or to win that all important game; but as an adult I have to ask myself what consumes me. Sure helping out at the church and doing this that and the other takes up alot of time, but can I say it consumes me, or am I just burning up a bunch of time. Am I on fire for Christ.
Sometimes I feel that I was and now I am trying to relight a piece of wet wood, and I am sure many of us feel that way time to time, but I don't want to allow myself to get comfortable relighting that same old piece of wet wood. If we are consumed and on fire for Christ, how can we be comfortable and complacent.
Leia just told me we had 9 kids step up and go down to pray. Some prayed to receive God's free gift of eternal life. Others prayed to renew their commitment to Christ because a growing Christian wouldn't just sit there and not move to grow and some felt as though they had. 9 of 16 kids.
And we were challenged to take that fire for Christ and see how we could effect our world, starting with our neighborhoods. The kids were encouraged to go home and share with lost family members and friends. The teens were asked what they were doing to impact their schools.
Consumed.
How are we as adults consumed.
We're burnt up and burnt out with the stresses of work and raising families. We allow everything and anything to get in the way of what we know God would have us do. We are consumed with the biggest and best of everything. I can speak only for myself when I say I can, and often do, allow crazy things at church to tick me off. I call it church politics, and dismiss it as something that doesn't matter. But it does. It is something I allow to separate me from the body of Christ. I allow my dislike of a meeting, my dislike of conflict, my hatred of not getting my way, to douse cold water on the what should be burning log of my life serving God. I allow stupid inhibitions to control me and keep me from spreading God's word, laziness to keep me from studying God's word, and selfishness to keep me from representing God's word; all for the sum of me not living God's word and not allowing God's word to consume me.
These past couple days was going to be for me, a time to watch some youth run around for a while.
These past couple days turned out to be a time for me to reflect and see where I am measuring up to the plan God has for me. I hope and pray that as the children share what they may have learned, that it will also be a time of reflection for them as well as their parents.
We've said the youth is the church of tomorrow; this conference taught us that the youth is not. The youth is the church of today.

CHRISTMAS '08

Christmas at our house has become way different than it was when I was a kid. The celibration is not about gifts any more, its about the birth of Christ. The food is not realy about seeing how much pie we can eat, but more of lets get together and fix a really great meal. And I don't focus on what I am getting, but what can I get for my niece and nephew. Last year I got them loud musical instraments. Joe and Shawna were not pleased. This year I went for silent killers, play-doe, makeup, coloring mess makers, and yes a spider for Nick to chase Abbi around the house with.
This year I've tried to encourage the kids at church, after opening their gifts from "Santa" to stop and say a little prayer thanking God for the gift he gave us. I'd encourage anyone reading this to also stop and thank God for the gift of eternal salvation. Sometimes we think we're so less than perfect that we don't deserve this free gift and they are right, we don't. But God wants to give it to us anyway. It is like this. We all know someone who has a kid we think is really bad behaved. Always into something, right. Well, what did that kid's mom and dad give him for Christmas. They went out and got the best they could and held nothing back. Well, that is how God looks at us. He wants the best for us no matter how bad we are. There is a gift out there that can't be topped for anyone that has not yet accepted it. Just give it some thought.

Oh, this Sunday I will be telling all of how I make Sweet Potato Crunch to anyone in Sunday school. Hope to see you there.

The Challenge - Results

Well, lets keep it positive.
No we didn't reach our goal of 50, we had around 20, which is really great.
Am I going to tell the class what I do to my Sweet Potato Crunch?
I haven't made my mind up yet. Part of me wants to because I think everyone tried; then the other part says no, because we didn't reach our goal.
I would have been willing to shave my head for 50 or have given myself a rock'n Mohawk for 30, but you can't un-tell a secret. So we'll have to see how I feel about it Sunday morning.
I will tell you this, double the crunch. Its the best part!

The Challenge

As some may already know, I am currently teaching my Sunday school class, First Steps, to Mrs. Beth's class, Spairs and Pairs. This past weekend was only week two of the seven week course and I issued the class a challenge. This challenge was different than most challenges I give my class. Ususally I tell the class that if we have 100% perfect attendance, I will cook breakfast for the class the last day. This class is special. It is full of people eager to be baptised and to join our church; people eager to learn about and share Christ.
So...
I have made the challenge for our Sunday school class to have 50+ people next Sunday 12-21-08. Fifty people! WOW!
A couple months ago our church had high attendance Sunday and we had 138 people in Sunday school - the entire church had 138.
It is going to take some work and more importantly alot of prayer to get 50 people.
But if we do there were two choices of prizes.
One was my reciepe for Sweet Potato Crunch. I know your saying big hairy deal, but I make some GOOD! sweet potatos and have had to make them every Thanksgiving and Christmas for the past 10 to 15 years. Once you've eaten my sweet potato crunch, you won't want to eat anyone elses.
Second choice was me shaving my head.
Either choice the class would have made would effect me just as bad as the other. I'd almost rather shave my head than to tell anyone how I make sweet potatos.
Well, the class voted to get my reciepe, and now all they have to do is to get 50+ people in class.
Let's see how it turns out.

Breakfast with Santa

From Blogging with BA

This weekend was packed full of fun.
Saturday morning I was privleged to help with our Children and Youth fundraisers. The first being "Breakfast with Santa." A number of kids got to come sit on Santa's lap (AKA my Dad) and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Their parents got to take pictures of their kids with their own camera so that they could then download them and email them to all their friends and families.

Dad worked with a local photographer, Lori Gragg, where people got some really great pictures of their kids with Father Christmas.

The picutres taken at the church didn't look anything like this one. I'll see if I can't download some of them later.

After the kids got their picture with Santa they went to the Social Hall and were served Sausage and Pancakes.

I think the kids and the parents alike had a great time.

I want to say something before I post this blog.
We go to a church in Fitzgerald Georgia that may not be perfect, and a person can't say we're a small church nor can they see we're a big church, but we are a church that sees the need to do things for and with the children and youth. More importantly, we are a church that will get up and do things for and with children and youth. There are people in our church that show up EVERY time they're needed to help. There are people in our church that volenteer EVERY time they hear there might be a need of help. There are people that donate funds EVERY time funds are needed. I can say "THANK GOD!" our church is a church with a vision, a desire, and the willingness to step up. I mean we know it is not of us. We as men and women couldn't or wouldn't do it of our own and we know it is of God. But; I know people can and sometimes do turn a deaf ear to what it is God is asking them to do. It is just that God is so wonderful and has done so much for the children and youth of our church that it blows my mind.
It would be impossible to mention everyone that has helped, so I would personally like to take the time to publicly say thank you to each of them. Thank you for helping but THANK YOU for showing me how much a person has to give and how special that gift can be. When I sit back and look at our church, I can't help but be proud of what God is doing; even when I may not be totally happy with everyone in it, God's blessings totally outshine any mistakes we as members may ever make.

Thanksgiving

I thought it might be nice to share a few things I am thankfull for this year, and to do that I wanted to share what it is I did on Thanksgiving.

I worked at both my jobs Wednesday before, so I was tired come Thursday morning. I intended to get up and make sweet potato crunch for my mom to take down to my brother's house. They had all planned to go down there and eat with him and his family, I was scheduled to work that night and didn't want to make a rushed trip back to Fitzgerald and planned not to go.
Well, dad had to play Santa for my brother-n-laws cousin down in Valdosta and so they were leaving earlier than I thought they would and I didn't get the chance to make the sweet potato crunch everyone has come to expect every holiday. (What can I say it is good!)
I laid around and finally, for my Thanksgiving meal, I opened a can of raviolli. Most people that ask how was you Thankgiving follow that question with an indepth description of everything they had to eat and how good it was. When I say I opened a can of raviolli, they almost gasp as if it is unAmerican to not have turkey and all the trimmings, but really what difference does it make.
Now not on Thanksgiving day, but later in the weekend, I sat down and thought about this odd reaction I was getting. I understand some people really feel turkey day, I mean Thanksgiving, is a day to spend with family and to reflect of how the past year was so great and to eat till you can't breath. Great! if that is your thing, go with it.
I can say that I am thankfull that I had anything at all to eat. There are so many people without and the road our country is on, next Thanksgiving there may be even more people without.
I can say I am thankful to have a family as cool as the one I've got. Sure they get on my nerves and it has never killed me to see them do something without me. I've always enjoyed my quiet space and don't see the point in ruining others good time when I'd rather be home alone. But there are times I do things with them and I can say I enjoy it when I do.
I can say I am thankful for the friends I have from school. I've lost touch with many of them, some just because we grew apart and others because of stupid descisions I've made. But it seems slowly one by one, I am getting contacted by them and updated on their lives is counted a blessing.
I am thankful for the church family I have. I know they are growing spiritually and learning about themselves as I am about myself. Even the church politics that always knocks me for a loop can't stop me from loving those people. I've tried to not like some of them because of it, but I don't have the strength.
I am most thankful for the fact the God has chosen me to be who I am. I know I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, but I know God has a plan for my life and I have to open myself up to growing into that plan. It is not secret that a couple years after I became a Christian that I turned my back on the whole thing. It is no secret that I tried to convince myself that what I knew was true, God died for my sins, was little more that group brainwashing; till I woke up and realised once you know the truth you can't unknow it and came back to the church. And I can be thankful that regardless of who I am, God is there picking me up over and over and over again, even when sometimes it would be better to leave me broken.
You know everyone wants to live a life without regret, but how can you do that. If we look back and see ourselves for who we were and who we are, how many of us can say we've been the best we could have been? How many can say they've treated everyone with respect, dignaty, and love. If I could say I've treated everyone with a loving heart, I'd be happy. But I have not and do not. I allow myself to engage in conflict with members of our church over petty things - my blog, VBS, getting a bus - and fail to remember that Jesus brought people to Himself with love. And He is the example set before us to teach us how to live.

I think Thanksgiving, for me, is best summed up as a time Thankful for the reminder to be self-reflective. The food isn't important, and doesn't matter.
Who I am to myself and to others is.

RA's 2008

From Blogging with BA

This is a picture of most of the boys in our RA class. All the boys are not there, but to have a night when we are all there is very rare.
Something that has just developed is a partnering with an RA class from Liberia. We are going to send packages to one another which will give the boys to chance to learn what God is doing in boys lives across the world. It is very exciting and very cool to see how God works in our lives in matters like setting this up. I can say that I don't always, if not almost never, stop to see just how God is working in my life. I think as Christians, we can all get to the point where our own actions is all that matters and when faced with opisition, we allow ourselves anger and resentment; when if fact if we've sat back and given God control we would find it less stressful and that pieces more easily fall into place. There is a project that I feel God has laid on my heart with the teens in our community. Last night, on my way home, I started thinking about it and that little quiet voice came up and asked if I was going to pray about it and let God part of it or was I going to charge ahead, steamrolling everything that gets in the way. Well, as we all know, it is easy for us Christians to ignore that voice we know is the Holy Spirit and do what we want to anyway, but this time I listened. I've given this project to God and only ask that those that read this blog will spend alittle time in prayer. Pray for our RA class. These boys are faced with a world that doesn't reflect the things we teach in church. Pray for the boys in the RA class in Liberia. I don't know anything about their living conditions, but to know there is a church starting an RA class is encouraging and I know Satan is raging an attach there. Pray for me, that I will give God control and I will be the example to these young boys that God would have me be. Pray that God would give me patience with the leaders of our church, and that this vision will come to be and will impact the teens in our community and who knows the world. Pray for our teens and children. They face battles we hardly knew exsisted when we were that age and pray for each other. Many times we're told something or see something that ticks up off without ever taking the time to try to understand what the other party is going through that would have provoked the offending action. Church politics is a nasty monster in a church and I truely wish it were banned from all churches. Let us all get on board doing God's will and leave our own agendas at home. I pray that God blesses you all and that a lesson of God's love will be learned by us today. I pray that peace will be in our hearts and our spirit of combativness will be silenced. I pray a smile will rise up from our hearts to our faces and that the lost world would see that smile and be encouraged to allow Christ into their hearts.
Bless you,
Brian

High Attendance Sunday

This past weekend was High Attendance Sunday.

We had a really good turn out. 138 in Sunday School.

Our class, First Steps, had a special treat where I fixed us a breakfast casserole and hash browns, with coffee and orange juice. We started class with a contest where each volunteer blew a balloon to the finish line. The point of the exercise was to think of ourselves as the balloon and the volunteer as the Holy Spirit. We could then imagine how difficult it is for the Holy Spirit to lead us when we are trying to do our own thing. Then we studied some statistics of what unchurched people think of Christianity and religion in general. The information came from the North American Mission Board web site, http://www.namb.net and it really made me think.

One question came up that I thought was really interesting when discussing how we could make it easier for the Holy Spirit to lead us. It was asked, how do we know when what we hear is the Holy Spirit and when is it ourselves? We know that we are naturally sinful and that it is of God any good that comes from us; therefore, any good is to the glory of God. So, it is my opinion that when faced with a decision, I have at least two choices, I know the one that is right and good would be the Holy Spirit leading me, and the one evil and nasty is of me. I need to listen to the Holy Spirit and do what is right and good in order to allow myself to be lead by God.

We concluded our class with a quick presentation of the 4 Spiritual Laws. I gave each person a tract and encouraged them not only to read it for themselves, but to share it with a friend or family member that may be trying to make a spiritual decision.

Class was great, but Brother Jimmy's sermon was wonderful.

You might say that Jimmy gave his version of the "Fire and Brimstone" sermon. I can say with out hesitation that it was done with more love than I've ever heard such a sermon. Most of us have heard something like "Repent or Burn!", but Jimmy talked on what a person in hell would want to say to the people left behind, and he really hit it home when he mentioned what a parent might want to say to their child if the parent found him or herself in hell. How much would a parent want to warn their child of the consequences of their actions.

It was truly a blessing and I feel privileged to have heard it.

Fall Festival '08

We've had a lot of fun this month.
The kids rode in a float at the Sweet Potato Festival held in Ocilla Georgia on October 25. Some of our Wednesday night teachers handed out tracks and free water to people as visitors shopped at different vendors booths.
Then on October 29, the Y/C Department sponsored it's First Annual Fall Festival Carnival.
Some games were; Pick-a-Stick, where kids picked a stick and got the number of pieces of candy that matched the color on the sick; Pie Toss, where kids got to throw a whip cream pie at Mrs. Leia's face; Hidden Treasure, where kids dug in sand to find the hidden coins; Fish'in, where kids held a fishing pole behind a curtain and pulled it out to see the cup was full of candy; Shave the Balloon, where kids used a popsicle stick to shave a balloon and tried not to pop it; Bean Bag Toss, where kids tossed a bean bag into some buckets to win candy; Football throw, where kids threw a football into a Target to see how much candy they could win; Basketball; Horse shoes; and face painting. Pop corn and Kool-aid were served.
There was a raffle where people won prizes donated by local businesses here in Fitzgerald.
Things rapped up about 8:30 with around 200 people coming to play.
It was a lot of fun.

October is What?

October has been and will continue to be my favorite month of the year. I love it. The summer is over and things begin to cool down. The leaves begin to change colors and the grass stops needing cut. I mean what is there not to like about October.

Our church children and youth have a few things planned. One is to participate in the Sweet Potato Festival in Ocilla. They have planned to ride on a float with a sign that says God is the Great I Yam. Get it?

The next big thing they have planned is the Church Fall Festival. They will have some games set up where the kids in the community can play and get some candy. It will also be a good time to get to share Christ.

Look for pictures of this months activites in future blogs.
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It's not about US ... It's all about Him!

Click on Pic to view album

Fall Retreat '08

Fall Retreat '08 - Know His Character

On September 26-28, West Side Baptist Church - Youth and Children went on our FIRST ANNUAL FALL RETREAT. We left Fitzgerald at 4PM Friday and, after stopping to eat a pizza picnic dinner at around 6PM, we arrived at the FFA FHA Camp in Covington Ga at just after 8PM. By 9PM we were in our meeting room and starting the intro of our lessons.

On Saturday morning we enjoyed a breakfast of grits, eggs, and sausage. Some also had fruit and or cereal, with milk or juice. Class began at 8:30.
We started our first lesson with a taste test. With four volunteers, who could pick out the "Real" Coke between four samples.
The first taste was of Ritz Cola, 3 of the 4 thought it was the "Real" Coke.
Second was COKE Cola, and again 3 of the 4 thought is was the "Real" Coke.
The third sample was Chek Cola, made here in Fitzgerald at Deep South.
ALL FOUR KIDS THOUGHT IT WAS THE "REAL" COKE.
The fourth sample was Tonic Water, and ZERO kids thought it was the "Real" Coke.

This was a lot of fun, but with a point. After the taste test, we asked why some of the volunteers liked the other drinks better or thought that the other drinks were the "Real" Coke? and How does that relate to people believing in false gods or not sure they follow the REAL God.
We asked an open question, "How do you know your following the real God?"

The second lesson started with a race. Four children volunteered, each blew up a balloon and on the word go tossed the balloon in the air, put both hands behind their backs, and blew the balloons across the room and back.

It was a close race, and when each team of two finished, we explained what the race represented. The balloons represented us, and the contestants represented the Holy Spirit. We asked the kids what was hard about blowing the balloons in the direction they wanted them to go. They said the balloons didn't want to cooperate and kept falling down. What happened. The volunteers (remember are the Holy Spirit) had to keep picking them up and getting the balloons (us) back on track. We talked about how hard the Holy Spirit has to work to keep us on the right track, and what we can do to make that job easier.

Our third and last lesson began with a skit performed by the teachers that went on the retreat with us. The skit made the point that unless we first know Jesus for ourselves, we can not share him with others. Of course this was done in a fun way where one lady loved food, not Jesus; a man spent his time pursuing relationships with women rather than one with Jesus; two women found joy in shopping, not knowing Jesus; another man found life in books, not Jesus; a grumpy old man kept to himself rather than surrounding himself in Jesus; a drunkard searched for joy in the bottom of a bottle; and finally at the end of our short skit, the young lady finds Jesus with the help of another young lady who knew Him and could tell her how to find Jesus Christ and shared the ABC's of becoming a Christian.

In between class, WE HAD FUN!

We got to play mini-golf, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and ping pong. The children got to play on the paddle boats and the youth were allowed to participate on the Low Ropes course. At the end of the day we were treated with a nice bonfire on the lake. We sang a couple songs and had a moment of invitation, followed by everyone holding hands and taking turns praying.

We had lots of fun in the cabins too. Pouring cold water over the shower curtain on someone while he was taking a shower was a favorite prank in the boys cabin.

Everything went well and we knew we had been blessed by getting to know more about God's character while having such a good time.

The Character of God

We are very close to our First Annual Fall Retreat, and the topic of study is "The Character of God".

This has to be the greatest topic to learn about, especially for young and new Christians. I mean who wouldn't want to know more about God the person.

But is it me or does it also seem to be a topic we can not even hope to completely understand it all.

The people closest to me all know I am rather crazy and do stupid stuff all the time. They know I like tattoos and will show the two I have before they can ask. They also know that if I had the money, I'd have about three or four more. They know I tend to get ticked off about things quick and that I am working on keeping my mouth shut till I've had a chance to think about what it is that just ticked me off. They know I love my dogs and hate cats. They know I've never wanted kids of my own, but working with kids a few hours a week is cool. They know I don't focus on marriage or dating and that I am fine with being alone. They know I can't stand church politics and "Christians" attacking Christians is above all else the one thing I can't stand.

But what would they say about my character?

Would the people that know me best describe my character as someone who has a hunger to know the character of God? Would they even describe me as a Christian at all?

I hope and pray that as the lessons for the retreat are written, that the parents of our youth and children, that the teachers of our Sunday school classes, can take this journey with me. I hope they can not only see what the lessons will be, but will also take the time to open their minds and hearts and allow God to share something with them as well.

This is a church growing and thus, experiencing some major growing pains. We have to be not only tolerant of each other, but encouraging for what the other person is doing to try and spread the message of Christ.

One thing was said at the Sunday school convention at Norman Park that really has stuck with me. He said, "The backdrop to the Holy Gospel is a group of people that LOVED one another."

This may be the one characteristic of God that is mentioned or talked about the most in the Bible: and therefore, maybe considered the most important. The Fruit of the Spirt in Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." * * Note * * Love is first on the list.

I challenge everyone that reads this, especially the members of my church, to take a hard look at themselves, and ask "do I love people?"

The truth, I don't love people as much as I should. If I did, I wouldn't get mad so quick, I'd evangelize more, I'd be a brighter shining light pointing the lost to the road of forgiveness and hope.

Lets all be in prayer that God will heal us, and that He will raise us up to truly loving each other, not the fake stuff we sometimes throw out there.

Peace out my homies.

RA's - Start of a New Year

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NAS)
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an
appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God

We have started a new church year and I, with the help of Terry Harper, have been given the pleasure to teach the young RA class. We have 1st graders up to 5th graders.

We have started working toward earning our RA patches. One of the first patches we are going to start working toward is the Camp Craft badge. It is going to be a lot of fun and a great opportunity for the boys to do something with their dads. I look forward to presenting our class with their first patches.

Two Sides to a Church

These past few months have been a large challenge for me at church.

Though I like everyone there, I feel that "church politics" is being allowed to kill us. I have said many times that there are two sides to any church, the spiritual side and the business side.

The spiritual side is what we as Christians are drawn to and called to church for. We attend the church of our choice, with like minded believers, to receive spiritual nourishment. Just as the body requires nourishment to carry on its daily activities, survive, and prosper; so does the spirit require nourishment to carry on its daily activities (sharing and being a light to the dark and lost world), survive (no the spirit won't die, but it's fire can be quenched), and prosper (just like the body grows, so does the spirit grow as it is sanctified in Christ).

The business side is what keeps the lights on, but has no place dictating what the church does or doesn't do spiritually. Church business can become a distraction from the true business of the church, reaching the lost. Church politics can divide a church faster than anything and is in my opinion the number one tool used by Satan to attack people trying so hard to conform to the ways of the Lord.

It is this division I am speaking of where I feel our church is being attacked using church politics to separate our members. Differences strike and hatred is the result. Even if we only allow ourselves a taste of hatred, the damage is done.

How many of us can say the relationships with our friends are the same or have grown stronger since engaging ourselves in "church politics"? Not many I am sure.

This past weekend it was mentioned that some people find themselves trying to work their way into heaven. We are taught in Ephesians 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

But I poss the question, is one making the acquisition that another is found boasting? (If so please read Matthew 7:5)

Yes, we have been responsible for cleaning the church, cutting the grass, cleaning the yards, painting some Sunday school classes, and many other chores around the church. But have we boasted about it? Have we made comments that our place in heaven is secured because of the work we have done? No, we have not, and I do take offence to such insinuations.

God had given us all as Christians a servant's heart. Psalm 100:2 "Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing."

My father has said many times that the church is ours to take care of and if someone is able, then we should not waste the money God has blessed us with by being lazy and not taking care of our blessings.

Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Either we will meet at a place we call "church" for the spiritual side of church; or we will gather for business meetings.

John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.

I write this blog not to call anyone out, not to upset anyone, and not to push any issues or persons I find at fault in our church. I write this to express my hope, desire, and prayer that our church will turn away from our business mindset and run to the open arms of the Father who loves us and wishes nothing but the best for us.

Rather than pushing each other down, let us pick each other up. Those that can, let them develop a servant's heart and with all good works let the glory be God's. And those that are not able to serve physically, let them be the back bone, the moral support and loving guidance we need.

1 Timothy 3:10
And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

I write this with much concern for the future of our church and the expressed desire to stay out of "church politics". I write this in trust that God will lay His hand on our church and direct us in the way He would have us go.

Sincerely,
Brian Argabright

WOW!! for the Youth

The Youth and Children's Department has been very busy working on many fundraisers to allow us to go on a few trips. The first fundraiser we did was a car wash. The support from the community was shocking. Then we had a lunch one Sunday after church. The support from the church was very nice. The latest fundraiser we had was selling BBQ plates for $6 each. Each ticket sold invited people to church and the children sold tickets like professionals. We sold tickets for nearly 700 plates. Part of the success was that we had volinteers to deliver plates to businesses for lunch. We could have used more drivers, but it went over pretty well. Then for dinner, people could come pick up their plates and we had like a drive-thru set up. Some bought extra plates, and we came close to serving 800 plates by the time the night was over.
Receiving a prize for being our top sellers were brothers Tyler and Taylor, each selling 74 BBQ plates. WOW!!!
There are two more fundraisers scheduled before we go on our First Annual Fall Reteat, where we will be studing the character of God.
We have been blessed in so many ways with the children's ministry in ways such as support, a growing Y/C department, and new families joining our church in membership. Everyday we should be in prayer thanking God for these blessings, none of which we deserve but that He desires to give us.

Vacation Bible School '08

This is a copy of the picture from the news paper from Vacation Bible School here at West Side Baptist Church. There were so many of us that we couldn't all fit in the picture. Praise God.
VBS Focused on Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is enternal life in Christ Jesus."
We were visited by Cap'n Cross and his gang of pirates, Amy, Harry, and Cool Joe (puppets). It was alot of fun.

West Side YC LockIn - '08

On Aug. 16th, we had our annual Lock In. The children enjoyed dinner and games till they finally passed out, most around 3 a.m. Cheyenne M. was the one that stayed up the latest. One of the team games the children enjoyed was dressing a team member up with wrapping paper. Each team was judged on their creations and the winning team received a prize. At around 8 a.m. we had pancakes and sausage with milk or orange juice for breakfast. We went home around 9:30 and spent most of Saturday catching up on some sleep. It was alot of fun and something we plan to do again next year.

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On August 9, 2008 the church youth had a car wash where children and adults of all ages helped raise funds for our First Annual Fall Retreat.

Nick and Abbi's first day of school '08

Abbi is starting the second grade. She is very smart and will do very well.

Nick is starting Pre-K. He will tell you that it is school for "big boys".

I am sure that both their teachers will have many stories to tell after a year with these two -angels- .

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Mom's Family reunion was held July 12, 2008 at our church social hall. People drove from North Carolina and Oklahoma. It was real nice to get to see everyone.

BACK TO SCHOOL BIBLE BASH

Back2SchoolBibleBash

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July 30, 2008

West Side Baptist Church at 612 West Altamaha Street in Fitzgerald Georgia, held its FIRST annual Back to School Bible Bash.

Each Sunday School class hosted a game table. Some games encluded a basketball throw, ring toss, and darts, just to name a few. Children were treated to free hotdogs, popcorn, drinks, and free school supplies. Each child was given a New Testiment NIV Bible. We even had a great up and coming contimparary Christian band, called Allegiance, out of Jessup Georgia.

New Additions to the Family

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Joe and Shawna were married in Feb. 2008. This is Nick and Abbi my niece and nephew. Abbi is 7 and Nick is 4. Check out the photo album by clicking once on their picture.

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Howdy,
Going to try to see about blogging. The children at our church are doing alot and I would like to have a place my friends all over can visit and see'em.

Later,
Brian