Whitesburg December 2016/January 2017 Magazine

Whitesburg DECEMBER 2016

Y R A U N A -J

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JANUARY 2017

Whitesburg

Whitesburg DECEMBER 2016

A Christmas to Remember

Christmas at

Whitesburg

Come celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth in one of Whitesburg Baptist Church’s special Christmas services this December.

Hanging of the Green December 4 at 11 am

Our Student Choir leads a joyous worship celebration!

Children’s Choirs Presentation December 4 at 6:15 pm

A heart-warming children’s Christmas program.

Winterlude

December 11 at 6:15 pm

Four pianos and a big band play timeless Christmas favorites.

Inside

Whitesburg DECEMBER 2016

2 A Christmas to Remember By the Whitesburg Baptist Church staff

9 No Room at the Inn

By Melissa Schuster

A Christmas to Remember

13 Decorating the Christmas Branch?

By David Dye

16 Kid's Space Scavenger hunt

17 December Calendar Coming up at Whitesburg Baptist

PAGE 2 A Christmas to Remember

Whitesburg magazine is a publication by Whitesburg Baptist Church, 6806 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, AL 35802-2299. (Permit No. 446) Publisher: Whitesburg Baptist Church Editor-in-Chief: Rev. David Dye Graphics & Publishing: Melissa Schuster, Ron Snyder Editorial Assistants: Karen Tidwell, Beverly Dishman, Jordan Busk

Subscribe!

Receive Whitesburg magazine in your home or business by subscribing in one of these ways: • Visit WhitesburgBaptist.org/subscribe.

• Email your name and mailing address to subscribe@wbccares.org.

• Call the office at 256-704-5678, ext. 279.

PAGE 13 Decorating the Christmas Branch?

December 2016 | Whitesburg

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A Christmas to Remember We asked our Whitesburg church staff to share some of their favorite Christmas memories. Here's what they said...

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WhitesburgBaptist.org

The theme, “A Christmas to Remember,” brings all kinds of thoughts to my mind. Like most adults, I immediately think of the Christmas times of my childhood. I remember so many of them. Some of them run together in my mind, but some are very specific.

As I have grown older, I find myself thinking of how much more Jesus means to me. He really is “the reason for the season.”

Gifts once filled my Christmas with excitement. Now it is the presence of God’s love, blessings, and eternal security that give me joy and peace deep down inside.

I want this year to be one that is clear in my memory because I took time to read about the birth of Jesus, to meditate on His great love, and to bow down before Him in sincere thankfulness and surrender.

- Dr. Jimmy Jackson

When I was in college at Alabama, my friends would ask me, "What are you doing for Chrismtas?" And I would say, "I'm going home to Germany!" My parents were stationed in Wiesbaden and Mannheim while I was in college. We would go shopping at the little German Christmas markets and travel to different places like Paris and Rome for New Year's.

- Brittany Sims December 2016 | Whitesburg

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A Christmas In the early 70s, Mom decided that Jesus was returning before the next Christmas, so my sisters and I received every thing on our wish list.

It took her many months to pay off the charges!

- Beverly Dishman The first Christmas after my brother joined the Army, my mother decided to attempt to put the tree in the stand herself (my brother always did it before). She put the tree in the stand and it would fall to the side, she would do it again and it would fall again, over and over. The blade was not going into the tree.

Finally she grabbed the tree, picked it up with all her might, and screaming, shoved it into the stand. SPLAT! The legs of the stand sprawled out flat! My mother cried, and my sister and I laughed. Finally, she called a friend who was working at Terry's Pizza. He showed up with a pickle bucket and rocks. He placed the tree in the bucket and wedged the rocks in around it to keep it standing. My mom began to laugh until she cried, saying, "I knew all those pickle buckets were good for something!"

- Patti Hatmaker 4

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to Remember My favorite Christmas memory happened almost every year of my childhood and teenage years.

My twin sister, Margaret, and I would spend the night in each other's rooms on Christmas Eve. We alternated rooms every year. When it was her turn to "host," I had to sleep on the trundle bed that was part of her day bed. She would pull the bar on that side (that lowered the trundle for storage) no less than four times during the night and send me crashing to the ground!

It was so fun!

- Chrissy Curtis

One of my favorite Christmas memories occured just a few years ago when it snowed early Christmas morning and our grandchildren were here. We had a magical time playing with them in the snow before it quickly melted!

- Guy Morton

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A Christmas to Remember Many years ago, Suzanne and I were beginning to decorate our home in Togo, Africa for Christmas.

We could not find an evergreen tree anywhere in Togo, so we cut up a cardboard box in the shape of a Christmas tree. We then glued green and red construction paper to it. It was the most beautiful Christmas tree we have ever had.

- John Crocker

When I was growing up, my older siblings who lived several states away would come home for Christmas sometime during the holidays, but not necessarily on Christmas Day. We would always wait to celebrate and open gifts when most of them could be together at our house. It didn’t matter which day—what mattered was that our family could celebrate together. My parents’ flexibility helped me understand that the relationships were more important than the actual date. Now it’s my turn to be flexible, since our oldest daughter will celebrate her first married Christmas with two large extended families. I pray that we will pass down to her the gracious legacy that my parents started.

- Deree Tarwater 6

WhitesburgBaptist.org

We Three

Kings

of Orient Are

We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts, we traverse afar Field and fountain Moor and mountain Following yonder star Oh, star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading Still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect light Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain Gold we bring to crown him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign Frankincense to offer have I Incense owns a deity nigh Prayer and praising, voices raising Worship God on high ~Lyrics by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.

Come see our Christmas trees decorated as the Three Kings on Huntsville's Tinsel Trail at Big Spring Park this December!

Vesper Service The true meaning of Christmas comes to life during this short and sweet time as we sing carols and read the story of Jesus’ birth!

Saturday, December 24 5:00 - 5:30 pm

WHITESBURG BAPTIST CHURCH 6806 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802 8

WhitesburgBaptist.org

WhitesburgBaptist.org

No Room at the inn

by Melissa Schuster

It was a dark and stormy night. No, really, it was.

On an afternoon a few days before Christmas, my husband and I climbed into our Chevy pickup and set off on the fourhour drive from Huntsville to be with our family in western Kentucky for the Christmas weekend. The weather reports showed a strong possibility of snow and sleet in Kentucky that night and we were trying to beat the storm. We didn’t.

Just north of Nashville, TN, the sleet started. It was vicious, coming down blindingly fast and sticking to everything. Soon our windshield wipers became

encrusted with ice and froze to the windshield. We had no choice but to pull over and break them free, then resume our journey.

The road became slick and traffic slowed to a crawl. It started snowing heavily. It got dark. We stopped and broke the wipers free again and again. We saw cars spin off into ditches, their headlights shining at odd angles.

Traffic narrowed to one lane as the interstate disappeared under the snow. It became impossible to tell if we were on the highway or driving off into a field, so we stayed in the tracks of the vehicles ahead of us and prayed that whoever was in front knew December 2016 | Whitesburg

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NO ROOM AT THE INN where they were going.

Then, traffic stopped. The radio gave us the gut-clenching news: Interstate 24 was shut down under 18 inches of sleet and snow. Brian and I looked at each other for a minute and then he said, “Babe, I really don’t want to spend the night here on the interstate. I think there was an exit about a half-mile back.” We looked across to the east-bound lanes and they were empty.

Brian’s face got that determined look and I quickly grabbed those handles that are installed in trucks for when your husband is about to do something crazy.

Brian turned the wheel and gunned the engine as my mind screamed a prayer for our safety.

We barreled through the snow banks in the median, with Brian whooping and hollering like a maniac. Shimmying onto the east-bound lanes, we saw the welcoming glow of a gas station sign just up ahead. The exit also had a restaurant and a small hotel, and with grateful hearts we slid our way into the parking lot.

The hotel receptionist, who had been on duty all day and was trapped at work by the snow, was very kind but informed us 10

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that there were no more rooms available. We were welcome, however, to stay in the hotel’s small lobby at no charge. We gladly accepted her offer. Over the course of the night, people trickled in to find shelter at the hotel and restaurant. Some did like us and drove their four-wheel drive vehicles across the median to the exit. Others abandoned their cars on the interstate and hiked over. Families came, with cold, haggard parents carrying bundled up children and diaper bags.

A beautiful thing started to happen. People who had rooms in the hotel offered their rooms to families with small children and to elderly people. The hotel receptionist dug through supply closets and brought out pillows and blankets for the people on the floors of the lobby and hallways. Folks shared what meager supplies they had in their purses and backpacks with those who had immediate needs.

I started the movie “Jonah” on

my iPad and set it up for some kids in the lobby to watch with me. (Yes, even before I had kids, I had VeggieTales on my iPad. No shame.) And when morning finally dawned, the exhausted receptionist went into the little continental breakfast kitchen and cooked every piece of food she could find to feed everyone.

That night in the hotel lobby, I got a small glimpse of what it must have felt like for Mary and Joseph to be told there was no room at the inn. Mary was pregnant and in labor. We were caught in a snow storm. Very different situations, but I think they were probably as grateful for that stable as we were for the hotel lobby.

I also got to witness the beauty of being given a gift that cannot be repaid, only accepted.

Suddenly stripped of everything that night, we all felt compelled to share what we could, whether it was the comfort of a room, playing with a too-tired-tosleep toddler, giving up a spot in a cushy chair to a person who obviously just walked a long way in very deep snow, or even the distraction of an animated film.

These things seem small, but they meant so much.

On a dark, and maybe even snowy, night in Bethlehem a long time ago, a man and woman who had traveled a long way found that there was no room for them at the inn. They were welcome, however, to stay in the stable for the night. That night, the woman gave birth to a baby boy – a gift from God that could never be repaid, only accepted. A baby who seemed so small, but meant so much.

Melissa Schuster is blessed to be called Brian’s wife and Catie’s mom. She loves her unfailing Father. Melissa likes to read books, put chocolate syrup in her coffee, text her friends, and laugh with her family.

December 2016 | Whitesburg

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Christ WhitesburgBaptist.org

DECORATING THE

Christmas branch?

by David Dye

It was the year 2000. We had survived the Y2K scare (sorry millenials, you have no idea what I’m talking about) without a hitch and it was time to get ready for Christmas. This would be our son’s (Tyler) third Christmas and the first one where he could really get excited and understand what was coming. As we prepared to decorate the Christmas tree he was so excited and wanted to help. After stringing 2000 lights on the tree it was time to put on the ornaments. My wife would put a hook on an ornament and hand it to Tyler. He would then sing “O Christmas Twee, O

Christmas Twee, how lovely are your bwanches” as he placed the ornament on a branch and then go back for another ornament.

This process repeated itself until the tree was completely decorated. Every ornament going on the exact same branch as he sang “O Christmas Twee, O Christmas Twee, how lovely are your bwanches.” What he didn’t know was that after the third or fourth ornament being placed on the same branch it became evident that I was going to have to move some ornaments around while he wasn’t looking or all the ornaments would be on that December 2016 | Whitesburg

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DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS BRANCH?

same branch.

This is one of our favorite Christmas memories and believe it or not we never got tired of hearing him sing that same refrain. He was so cute and full of Christmas joy. And, he was doing what he had learned to do from watching the same Barney Christmas video hundreds of times. In the video the children and that big purple dinosaur decorate an entire christmas tree (lights and all) in the time it takes to sing that song. So to him, when you decorate the christmas tree you sing the song.

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Looking back at this now I learn several things about my relationship to my heavenly Father. First, God never tires of my praise and I don’t have to be original with what I say. In scripture whenever we get a glimpse into heaven we see God being praised repetitively. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3) “Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

(Revelation 4:8) While thinking of different ways to praise God may be a great exercise for me, I

can simply repeat over and over of God’s holiness and know that He never tires of it.

Second, I see that God is not looking for perfection in my service to Him. He can take my offering, no matter how small, and use it for His glory. Tyler was so proud to look at the beautifully decorated tree and see what “he” had done! Sometimes it seems my best just isn’t nearly enough but God can take what I have to give, multiply and magnify it into a gift worthy of himself.

And lastly, (at least for now, who knows what else God will reveal to me through this,) I see that I need to do what I’ve learned to do. God doesn’t leave us to figure out everything on our own, He has given us the manual in His word, the Bible. If I will read God’s word as tirelessly as a child can watch his favorite video over and over again, when I find myself in any of life’s situations I will know how to respond.

So for now, I will do what

I know to do, and when we decorate the tree this year you can bet I will be singing, “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are you branches.”

David Dye is a husband, father and minister. David says his greatest desire is to live a life like the Apostle Paul: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). He wants to point people only to Jesus and the salvation offered through His death, burial and resurrection.

December 2016 | Whitesburg

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Need help? 1 is on January pg 15, 2 is on December pg 8, 3 is on center spread, 4 is on January pg 3, 5 is on December pg 13, 6 is on December pg 10, 7 is on January pg 11, 8 is on December pg 15, 9 is on December pg 2, 10 is on January pg 6, 11 is on December pg 12, 12 is on December pg 14.

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Find the items below scattered throughout this magazine!

Scavenger Hunt

KID’S SPACE

2017

THE LIFT TOUR

WHITESBURG STUDENT MINISTRY

JANUARY 13-15

Get info about Disciple Now at

WhitesburgBaptist.org/ DNow

r e t s i g Re now!

Cost $90

Deadline December 14

WHITESBURG BAPTIST CHURCH

December 2016 Calendar

December 3 Bethlehem Breakfast 4 Special Morning Schedule - 9:30 am Combined LIFE Groups - 11 am Hanging of the Green 4 Children’s Choir Christmas Musical PM 10 Single Adult Christmas Banquet 11 Global Missions Service AM 11 Winterlude PM

12 Senior Day at the ROC 18 No Evening Activities 23-31 Church Office & ROC Closed 24 Christmas Eve Vesper Service 25 Special Morning Schedule - No LIFE Groups - 10 am Combined Worship 25 No Evening Activities 28 No Evening Activities 31 Singles’ 35+ New Year’s Eve Party

For more details on these and other events, visit WhitesburgBaptist.org.

December 2016 | Whitesburg

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Hank Parker Event Speaker

Friday, March 17, 2017

Wild Game Tasting • Vendors • Door Prizes Live Music by the Madison Mountaintop Band

Doors open at 4:30 pm Whitesburg Baptist Church South Campus 7300 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802

Tickets: Adults - $12 each or $15 day of event Children 10 and under - $6 each or $8 day of event

Tickets at WhitesburgBaptist.org

WHITESBURG BAPTIST

OUTDOOR

Whitesburg JANUARY 2017

We are the clay, and You our potter;

And all of us are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

"Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued.

– Brené Brown

At Whitesburg, you will find a place to connect with others like you. We have two worship service styles and LIFE Groups for all ages, life

stages, and family situations. Worship happens on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:11 am. LIFE Groups meet on Sundays at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 am.

W 6806 WHITESBURG DRIVE, HUNTSVILLE, AL

Baptist.org

Inside

Whitesburg JANUARY 2017

PAGE 4 The Path to Peace

2 New Life for a New Year

By Dr. Jimmy Jackson

4 The Path to Peace

By Dr. Harold Fanning

8 Bringing Good News

By Dr. Beth Cape

10 Resolved

By Andrea Thoenes

13 January -February Calendar Coming up at Whitesburg Baptist

14 2017 Bible Reading Plan Six month topical plan

Whitesburg magazine is a publication by Whitesburg Baptist Church, 6806 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, AL 35802-2299. (Permit No. 446) Publisher: Whitesburg Baptist Church Editor-in-Chief: Rev. David Dye Graphics & Publishing: Melissa Schuster, Ron Snyder Editorial Assistants: Karen Tidwell, Beverly Dishman, Jordan Busk

Subscribe!

Receive Whitesburg magazine in your home or business by subscribing in one of these ways: • Visit WhitesburgBaptist.org/subscribe.

• Email your name and mailing address to subscribe@wbccares.org.

• Call the office at 256-704-5678, ext. 279.

PAGE 8 Resolved January 2017 | Whitesburg

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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 2

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new

Life

FOR A NEW YEAR

by Dr. Jimmy Jackson

God’s Word tells us that His mercies are new every morning.

His presence is also new every morning. On this New Year’s morning 2017, let us marvel at the unlimited abundance and eternality of life.

Sure, we all expect to have another birthday sometime this calendar year. For children, that is big stuff. How many times have you asked a child how old they are and their response is seven and a half. Each new year for them is slightly different from what they will experience later on in life. I cannot remember

anybody answering the question, if I dare ask it, “Oh pastor, I am 75 and a half years old.”

Whether we are early, in the middle or later in life, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have “New Life for a New Year” and He gives this “New Life” out one day at a time.

What a wonderful Savior and Friend.

Dr. Jimmy Jackson is the Senior Pastor of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL.

January 2017 | Whitesburg

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The path to

peace

by Dr. Harold Fanning

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WhitesburgBaptist.org

Mankind is on an unworkable

realization that the canoe of life still has the same holes that and unrealistic path to peace. require continual bailing in The desire for peace of mind, order to stay afloat. peace with others, and peace Jesus had much to say about in the world are realities that peace. For example, He said, the majority long to possess.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace Sadly, peace attempted by I give unto you: not as the world humanist means result only giveth, give I unto you. Let not in hopelessness and despair – your heart be troubled, neither simply because peace is pursued let it be afraid” (John in all the wrong 14:27 KJV). Jesus places and by all There are no the wrong devices. clean slates, no is saying that His desire is for us to The New Year new realities, experience His deep is a time when no new world abiding peace, joy, countless souls – just the and unshakable faith mentally entertain the idea that same depressing – not the temporary there must be realization that peace and confidence of the world, but the something better the canoe of than where they life still has the peace and security that only results are. They reason same holes that from a relationship that the ‘old’ is require continual with Him. passing away and bailing in order Probably one of the ‘new’ occurs at the stroke of 12:01 to stay afloat. the most descriptive aspect of ‘newness’ is a.m. on January found in Paul’s words, “Therefore, 1st. Unfortunately, the sun rises if anyone is in Christ, he is a at daybreak and they discover new creation; old things have that the positive rays of hope are passed away; behold, all things extinguished by the veracity of become new” (II Corinthians sameness. There are no clean 5:17 NKJV). This is a simple, yet slates, no new realities, no new straightforward way to explain world – just the same depressing January 2017 | Whitesburg

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THE PATH TO PEACE

the reality of salvation. When must be born again’" (John 3:7). one places his faith and hope in If you are seeking peace by Jesus Christ he becomes a new worldly means you can expect creation. It is like to be disappointed. waking from a deep When one places However, if you sleep to a brand are seeking a his faith and new world.

The new life of peace, hope in Jesus ‘sameness’ of the joy, happiness, Christ he old life disappears and spiritual becomes a new and a new outlook satisfaction unlike creation.

It is dawns.

Suddenly anything you have there is a new view like waking from ever experienced, of God, a new view a deep sleep to then you must of Jesus, a new view allow Jesus to a brand new of the world around change your life world. us, a new view of from the inside out, sin, and a new view of obedience not the outside in! Turning to and holiness. Everything around Jesus Christ this New Year can us takes on a new perspective be the end of your hopelessness, because our old life is gone and despair, and longing for ultimate a new life has begun! This is why peace and joy. The peace you Jesus told Nicodemus, “Do not seek is provided only by the One marvel that I said to you, ‘You who has been seeking you!

Dr. Harold Fanning has been married to his wife Debbie for 41 years. He is a retired pastor who currently serves as a Hospice Chaplain. Harold speaks each Wednesday night at WBC’s Prayer Meeting service and is a hotrod enthusiast.

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TACKLE HUNGER

2017 Sunday, February 5 Help make a difference in our community.

So

per

BOWL of caring

Non-perishable food item collection at the South Campus immediately after the 9:30 and 11:11 am worship services on February 5.

WHITESBURG BAPTIST CHURCH Whitesburg Baptist Church South Campus 7300 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802

Bringing

Good News

by Dr. Beth Cape

Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine on a ten day mission trip. Though I spent two years as a journeyman missionary in Japan in my twenties, I had never traveled to Europe. My narrow vision was broadened as our team spent several days working in a summer camp for orphans, visiting churches and museums. Learning about the struggles of Ukraine throughout its history, as well as her most recent struggles to stay independent from Russia, made the current world events come alive for me.

My roommate and translator, *Sara, was a 28 year old Ukrainian Christian girl who had studied in a Bible school in California for three years. She speaks four languages and had the chance to stay in America, but chose to go home to her country. She spoke of the 2014 conflict between Ukraine and Russia and of friends who died there standing strong in their fight for freedom. I went to the places in Kiev where “The Heavenly Hundred” young men were killed. They made a difference — their country stayed free because of their sacrifice...for now. As we drove through fields of sunflowers, I began painting Sara’s favorite verse for her, Isaiah 61:1. I continue to pray for Sara and hope that each of us, like her, can read these words and claim them as our own.

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*Name changed January 2017 | Whitesburg

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Resolved

by Andrea Thoenes

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Ironic that we celebrate New Years in mid winter.

Nothing outside this morning says new: frosty brown grass in the field, thin ice at the pond’s edge, the lazy sun going to bed in late afternoon. The world looks old on January first. Old and tired. Wrapped in a brown scarf, looking anxiously ahead, mulling over high heat bills. Still, there it is on the calendar: January 1. New Year’s Day. Change, although unseen, is in the air.

In 1722 and 1723, Jonathon Edwards, just twenty years old, wrote a list of seventy resolutions to bring about godly change in his life. All his resolutions all begin with one word: Resolved.

Edwards writes: Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God… Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Resolved. The commitment made before the first step taken.

Past tense. Already done, in the bank, crossed off the list.

Make it so. No turning back.

Despite many failures, Edwards remained resolved. And what a gospel force Jonathan Edwards turned out to be. Resolved. The Lord can bring much fruit from one resolved. Daniel resolved not to eat of the king’s table.

Ruth resolved to follow Naomi back to her homeland and her God. Jesus resolved to offer His life, His face like flint.

Resolved is the faith-filled promise of today affecting tomorrow. What we sow, we will reap. If our spring is to be different, we must sow resolved seeds in mid-winter.

What crop does the Holy Spirit inspire today? Wisdom? Open communication? An attitude of contentment? When the world speaks of resolutions, do we have the courage to shout resolved?

Lord, let us shake off what now January 2017 | Whitesburg

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RESOLVED is and open our eyes of faith to what could be. Take heed, there will be no immediate reward, sake the pleasure of obeying. Days will pass: days of frosty brown fields without a hint of green. Weeks will pass, and as our souls hold fast to resolved we are delighted when an occasional warm breeze renews our hope.

A month more resolved, and golden forsythia peeks out from brown twigs. This is the power of resolved. Day by day, sweet Jesus.

Some resolutions deserve pen and paper, Jonathan Edwardsstyle. These are the ones to be read daily or weekly and require much grace-filled self-evaluation.

Some resolutions are made in the middle of a horrible fight with your spouse, or mid-term in a class you despise. Resolved: I will not give up. Resolved: I

will do my best work despite negative feedback. Resolved: I will bring glory to God through this.

The Lord can bring much fruit from one resolved.

Where will we be in three weeks if we are resolved today?

And in three months? Glory upon glory! Come now, breathe deeply of the chilly air. Shout it on the wind: Resolved! Let’s roll up our sleeves. Spring is coming.

For a complete list of Edwards' Resolutions, go to: http://www. desiringgod.org/articles/theresolutions-of-jonathan-edwards.

Andrea Thoenes is devoted to her husband, Michael, and her kids.

She likes to be with family and friends and do things that will impact eternity. Her life motto is, “Lord, I am willing to Receive what You Give, Lack what You Withhold, and Relinquish what You Take…”

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WHITESBURG BAPTIST CHURCH

January-February 2017 Calendar January 1 Special Morning Schedule - No LIFE Groups - 10 am Combined Worship 1 No Evening Activities 2 Church Office & ROC Closed 13-15 Disciple Now 14 Singles’ 35+ Coffeehouse 18 Global Prayer Dinner 22 Vision Night 28 Singles’ 35+ Coffeehouse 29 Discover Whitesburg Class AM & PM 29 Adult Discipleship Classes begin 29 Singles 35+ Potluck Lunch

February 3 Ladies’ Night Out 5 Souper Bowl of Caring 5 Singles’ 35+ Super Bowl Party 10 Date Night 11 Singles’ 35+ Coffeehouse 12 Lord’s Supper in PM Service 13 Senior Day at the ROC 25 Upward Basketball & Cheerleading Awards Day 25 Singles’ 35+ Chili Cook-off

For more details on these and other events, visit WhitesburgBaptist.org.

January 2017 | Whitesburg

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2017

Bible Reading Plan All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 This reading plan is designed to help you discover Biblical truth and to develop a firm foundation for your Christian walk. Each month has a theme, with a supporting passage for each day. The daily readings may be just a few verses or an entire chapter, with a phrase to help you focus on the main idea for the day.

In this magazine, we are publishing the first six months of the reading plan. Please check our June-July 2017 issue for the second half.

Visit our website to download your digital copy of this reading plan at WhitesburgBaptist.org/Resources.

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

THE DOCTRINE OF GOD

THE DOCTRINE OF GOD

1

Deut 4:32-40

The Only God

1

Psalm 65

Sustainer

2

Isaiah 46

The True God

2

Matt 6:25-34

Fatherly Care

3

1 Tim 1:12-17

Immortal, Invisible

3

Catch Up

4

Exod 3:1-22

Yahweh

4

Rom 13:1-7

Sovereignty

5

Deut 6

One God

5

Acts 17:22-31

Sovereignty, Self-Sufficency

6

Catch Up

6

Psalm 29

Sovereignty

7

Ezek 1

Glory

7

Dan 4:28-37

Sovereignty

8

Psalm 145

Glory

8

Isaiah 6:1-7

Holy

9

Psalm 96

Splendor

9

1 Pet 1:13-20

Holy

10 1 Jn 1:5-10

Light

10 Catch Up

11 1 Jn 4:7-12

Love

11 Psalm 9

Just

12 Deut 32:1-43

Greatness

12 Psalm 75

Judge

13 Psalm 94

Just

13 Catch Up 14 Isa 40:9-31

Greatness

14 Rom 1:18-32

Just Wrath

15 Rev 4

Worthy

15 Rev 19:1-5

Just & True

16 Rom 11:33-36

Self-Sufficiency

16 Hosea 2

Jealousy & Mercy

17 Jam 1:12-18

Goodness

17 Catch Up

18 Dan 2:17-30

All-Knowing

18 Psalm 25

Steadfast Love

19 1 Jn 3:19-22

All-Knowing

19 Psalm 136

Steadfast Love

20 Psalm 103

Compassion

21 John 3:10-4:11

Compassion

20 Catch Up 21 Psalm 139

All-Knowing, All-Present

22 Rev 15

Eternal

23 Isaiah 25

Eternal Plans

23 Lam 3:1-39

24 Job 38:1-40:2

Wisdom

24 Catch Up

25 Isaiah 55

Transcendence

25 Mic 7:18-20

Forgiveness

26 Jer 10

Wisdom

26 Heb 12:5-11

Fatherly Discipline

27 Catch Up 28 Gen 1:1-2:3

Creator

29 Psalm 104

Providence

22

1 Kgs 8:22-30, 54-61

Faithful Faithful

27 & 28 Catch Up

30 & 31 Catch Up January 2017 | Whitesburg 15

MARCH

APRIL

JESUS CHRIST & THE SPIRIT

HUMANITY & SIN

1

John 10:22-42

Deity

1

Gen 1:24-27

Humanity in God's Image

2

John 8:48-59

I Am

2

Psalm 8

Human Glory

3

Catch Up

4

Psalm 2

God's Royal Son

3

Gen 2:4-18

Our Relationshipo with God

5

Col 1:15-20

Supremacy of Christ

4

Psalm 84

Our Highest Purpose

6

Phil 2:5-11

Incarnation

5

John 15:1-11

Our Dependence on God

7

Isaiah 7

The Virgin Birth Predicted

6

Lev 19:1-4

Image of a Holy God

7

Catch Up

8

Matt 1:18-25

The Virgin Birth

8

Rom 11:33-12:2 Image of a Thinking God

9

John 1:1-18

Word Became Flesh

9

Gen 1:28-30

10 Catch Up

Our Relation to Creation

10 Ex 35:30-35

Image of a Creator God

11 Hebrews 1

Radiance of God's Glory

11 Gen 2:18-25

Our Relationship with Others

12 Matt 17:1-9

Transfiguration

12 Ephesians 5

Image of a Loving God

13 Matt 9:1-8

Forgives Sins

13 James 3:1-12

Speaking to Others

14 2 Samuel 7

Son of David

14 Catch Up

15 Matt 22:41-46

Son of David, Lord of David

15 Gen 3:1-19

Human Rebellion

16 John 5:1-24

Authority of the Son

16 Gen 11:1-9

Sinful Independence

17 Isaiah 59:1-13

Guilt and Nature of Sin

18 Psalm 14

Universality of Sin

19 Rom 5:12-21

Transmission of Sin

20 Rom 1:18-32

God's Wrath Against Sin

17 Catch Up 18 Psalm 110

At God's Right Hand

19 Hebrews 7

Priest Like Melchizedek

20 Rev 1:8-20

Son of Man

21 2 Cor 2:6-16

Spirit of God

22 Psalm 139

Omnipresent Spirit

23 John 14:15-31

Spirit of Truth

24 Catch Up 25 John 16:5-15

Spirit of Conviction

26 Acts 2

Coming of the Spirit

27 Rom 8:1-30

Spirit of Christ

28 1 Cor 12:1-11

Spiritual Gifts

29 Gal 5:16-26

Fruit of the Spirit

30 & 31 Catch Up 16

WhitesburgBaptist.org

21 Catch Up 22 Matt 5:43-48

God's Common Grace

23 Jer 17:5-13

Sin's Source: The Heart

24 Dan 4:4-37

Sin's Root: Pride

25 John 8:31-47

Slavery to Sin

26 John 14:1-14

The True Image

27 & 28 Catch Up 29 Colossians 3

Humanity's Renewed Image

30 1 Cor 15:35-49

Humanity's Renewed Image

MAY

JUNE

THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST

SALVATION

1

Matt 5:17-20

Fulfills the Law

1

Ephesians 1

2

Matt 4:1-11

Temptation

2

Catch Up

3

Heb 4:14-5:10

High Priest

3

Jer 31:23-40

New Covenant

4

John 16:25-33

Overcomes the World

4

Colossians 1

Big Picture Salvation

5

Catch Up

5

John 3:1-21

Born Again

6

Isaiah 42:1-9

Servant of the Lord

6

Ezek 36:22-36

New Heart & Spirit

7

John 13:1-17

Servant

7

Eph 2:1-10

Totally Depraved

8

Luke 4:16-30

Fulfills the Scripture

8

John 9

Spiritual Blindness

9

John 2:13-22

Zeal for His House

9

Catch Up

10 John 10:1-30

Good Shepherd

10 2 Cor 4:4-6

Re-creation

11 John 11

Power Over Death

11 1 Pet 1:1-5

Born to a Living Hope

12 John 1:1-13

Becoming God's Children

13 Acts 2

Coming to Christ

14 Psalm 34

New Taste Buds

15 Luke 18:18-30

Impossible Without God

12 Catch Up 13 John 17

High Priestly Prayer

14 Matt 26:36-46 Submission 15

Matt 26:4727:26

16 Psalm 22

Arrest & Trial Crucifixion

17 Matt 27:27-61 Crucifixion & Burial Isaiah 52:1318 53:12

Suffering Servant

19 Catch Up 20 Rom 5:12-21

Grace & LIfe

21 2 Cor 5:11-21

Reconciliation

22 2 Tim 1:8-14

Brought Life & Immortality

23 Hebrews 2

Destroyed Death

24

Heb 9:1110:18

Matt 27:5725 28:20

Better Sacrifice Resurrection

26 Catch Up 27 1 Cor 15:1-19

Resurrection

28 Acts 1:6-11

Ascension

29 Revelation 5

Enacts God's Plan

Big Picture Salvation

16 Catch Up 17 Isaiah 55

Come to the Lord

18 Acts 9:1-19

Paul's Conversion

19 Acts 16

God's Initiative in Salvation

20 Joel 2:12-17

Inner Change

21 Exodus 12

The Lamb as Substitute

22 Leviticus 16

The Day of Atonement

23 Catch Up 24 Rom 3:9-31

Justification in Christ

25 Psalm 32

Blessing of Forgiveness

26 Romans 4

Righteous by Faith

27 Gal 2:11-21

Justification Not by Law

28 Galatians 3

Necessity of Faith

29 & 30 Catch Up

30 & 31 Catch Up January 2017 | Whitesburg

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