Being Real in an Artificial World

Authenticity is how non-Christians judge Christians.  What does it mean to be a real friend?  What is real loyalty?  How can you show real trust? How do we make forgiveness real?  How do I as a Christian model these attributes?

Join us for our new 13-week study entitled Authentic Relationships: Being Real in an Artificial World and see what the Bible says about relationship.

Happy New Year!

It's been a busy holidays.  Too busy to update our blog.  But most of you know what we have been doing. Movie nights, Room in the Inn, collecting money for rice, beans and bikes for Toy Store, and attending all the fabulous services here at Woodmont.

For the new year?  We will be introducing a new study soon.  Our next movie night will be the movie "An Unfinished Life".  After that, Seabiscuit.

Check back for the new schedule.

Love to you all. After all, It's A Wonderful Life.

Food for thought

I love this quote from Arne Garborg(no I don't know him).
It is said that for money you can have everything,but you cannot. You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; knowledge, but not wisdom; glitter, but not beauty; fun, but not joy; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; leisure, but not peace. You can have the husk of everything for money, but not the kernel.
This has been stuck on my fridge for years and I read it regularly. Hope you find meaning in it as well.

Fall Back into Fall

We have two new studies for the fall and we are very excited about them.

The first is "The End of an Era, The Rise and Fall of Solomon" by John MacArthur.  
How would the gift of true wisdom change your life today … change your relationship with God, with your friends and your loved ones? In the MacArthur Old Testament Study Guide: End of an Era, you can learn how. Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes are brought to life in this twelve-week guide. You’ll connect to the text with deeper understanding as the themes of wisdom from God as well as being wise in the world are explored.


The second is "Finding Redemption in the Movies".
Ecclesiastes 3:11 suggests that we come ready-made to understand the greatest story, the epic story of an enemy’s betrayal, the fight between the destroyer and the redeemer, something lost and the journey to recovery, a hero coming to rescue, and ultimate restoration. The Larger Story is the story of the gospel, with Scripture providing the back-story (the truth) behind every meaningful story. Great movies speak to that ready-made part of us because story is the language of the heart.

We plan to use the Solomon study weekly, with a once-a-month Movie Night and follow-up study on Sunday.  We will be posting a schedule, but plan for our first movie night on Saturday, September 26.  

Granddaddy Sharp - A Very Special Man

From Sandra about her Granddaddy Sharp:  
"It is so hard to believe I have to say goodbye to my Grandfather of 45 years, he was such a special man to me.  A little information I wanted to share with my special friends in the Sunday School Class, my Grand-Father was the founding Pastor of Richland Free Will Baptist Church in Nashville, and the LaVergne Free Will Baptist Church in LaVergne, TN. He also pastored West Nashville Free Will Baptist Church and Radnor Free Will Baptist Church. Married for 66 years to Sarah Sharp aka Nana to everyone, since I was the first grand-child that is the name I gave her she has been Nana ever since.   He also baptized (2) of my kids Jason and Sarah, saying goodbye is never easy; however I know there will be a day when we will meet again.  One of my recent memories was when we were getting ready to leave after visiting I would lean over to kiss him goodbye and tell him I love him, then I would tell him to behave himself and his reply would always be “MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS”.  He will be missed by all who knew him well.  Heaven just gained a very special man, Tears of joy for I know he is with out Lord Jesus Christ, tears of sorrow for I know the remainder of  my years here I will dearly miss him."
  

Jimmy and I have enjoyed reading a wonderful book about Dr. Paul Farmer entitled Mountains beyond Mountains. We're back from the sea and looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday. WE miss our class when we're away!

Update on Mom

Hey friends --
Sorry I will not be with you the next couple of weeks. Mom is recovering nicely with her knee. Tomorrow (Sun.) we will remove the dressing and Thursday we will go for the first post-op visit. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers this past week. She came through well. Please continue to remember her as she continues her recovery on her own.
I did take Mike and Ben to Springer Mountain, GA today to begin their 100 mile trek on the Appalachian Trail. Say a prayer for particular moments when Mike can talk with Ben about faith in Jesus Christ and say a prayer for safety and good health. I've also asked God that it not rain on the AT this week. :-) I go pick them up next Sunday. Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers. I'd also like to ask you to remember Alex as he finishes his last two weeks of school. He has AP tests this week and finals the next. Thanks for your continued prayer support for me and mine. It means so much. It means you are being Christ to me.

Love you all -- Jana