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Compiled by the Faith Newsletter editor: Burt Pearson
Contents:
From your Pastor
The Four Lights of Advent
Address Updates
I Said A Prayer for You Today
Update from the Faith Youth Group
Your Phone Bill!
From Greg Scott
Kitchen Korner
Al’s Recipes
Lesson Illustration
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From your Pastor |
The technological era in which we live (i.e. word processing and affordable printing) has birthed the “Christmas Letter.” You know, the one that highlights the past year for all your relatives and friends. And every year, when you sit down to compose it, the same question remains: “What will we say this year?” As you organize your ideas, sometimes you end up with basically a chronological summary of the past year. Other times, one main event has so affected your life that it dominates the content. Whatever the case may be, if you’re a Christian, the letter usually meets the following criteria.
It has to:
• Report any major family happenings, like births, deaths, weddings, etc. without going into too much detail
• State the facts without being too drab.
• Talk about successes, promotions, milestones, accomplishments, and still sound humble
• Be evangelistic, without being too preachy. (For those friends / family who don’t attend church)
• Remind the reader not to forget the “reason for the season”
I think you get the idea…
There’s certainly nothing wrong with such a gracious attempt to share your family life with others. I mean…what else would you say in a Christmas letter? Besides, I’ve used this kind of format for years. But I wonder what God would do in our own lives, and in the lives of our family and friends, if we wrote a different style of Christmas letter. That is…if we had the courage to write it. (And in case you’re wondering, I haven’t found the courage yet, but I’m praying about it.)
What if we wrote something like this?
Dear Family and Friends,
This year, instead of sending you our usual “family update,” and Christmas greetings, we want to tell you about our sin, and how much we need Jesus. (At least you know for sure they would read your letter after an opening like that, huh!) And here are some things we want you to know about us. When it comes to our relationship with God, we sadly admit that even though we are trusting in Jesus for our salvation, we often try to walk with God based on our own self-effort instead of resting in the finished work of our Savior. Consequently, we spend much of our time focusing on the external matters of keeping God’s commands, while we ignore the internal matters of our heart. And we want you to know that we are becoming increasingly, and painfully, aware that our sin is more than just our isolated acts of disobedience, but rather, it is pervasive. Furthermore, we need to admit that our hearts are perpetual idol factories resulting in numerous and different objects or “payoffs” which pull our affection away from Jesus. By the way, we like to call our idol worship, “having some of our priorities out of order.” We’ve also realized that, with a significant portion of our life, biblical self-control is not even on our radar when it comes to our own desires. We like to call our obsessive self-gratification “legitimate needs.” And finally, we want you to know that we haven’t been sharing the gospel with our neighbors like Jesus told us to, in word or in deed, and we like to call our disobedience and lack of love, “not having the gift of evangelism.”
So this year, instead of reminding you to focus on Jesus, we just want you to know how desperately we need Him. We’d also like to ask for your prayers, in the coming year, that we would come to a deeper understanding of the gospel, that we might grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, whose birth we celebrate along with you.
Merry Christmas, with love,
The _________ Family
Who knows... if Christians started talking that way to a world that is lost and dying...and even to other believers for that matter…God might bring renewal first in our own hearts, and then cause a revival to sweep our land. However, it is risky to talk like that, because people might actually think I’m a sinner and that I need Jesus more than they do. But the truth is…I really do.
Just something to think about, as you write your Christmas letter.
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Grace and peace,
Pastor Adams |
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The Four Lights of Advent |
Please plan on attending the Faith Children’s Christmas Program, “The Four Lights of Advent“, on Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. The children of the congregation have been working hard on the play since mid-October. They are anxious to bless you with the retelling of the Christmas story, which is part of our Advent study this year focusing on Anticipation, Patience, Hope and Revelation. Along with the play there will be special music by members of the Faith Youth Group. Don’t miss this special evening in the life of our Faith Family!
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Address Updates |
Michael Chambers’ Address
Michael R. Chambers
P.O. Box 660631
Orlando, FL32816
Audrie West’s Address
Audrie West
9321 John Thomas Cove
Memphis, TN 38133
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I Said A Prayer for You Today |
The following was provided sometime back, but I must apologize for not recalling who provided it. I think it’s very good and deserves to be in our newsletter even without crediting the provider. (Faith Newsletter editor)
I said a prayer for you today and know that God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart although he spoke no word.
I didn’t ask for wealth or fame (I knew you wouldn’t mind).
I asked that he’d be near you at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care I prayed the most of all.
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Update from the Faith Youth Group |
Can you back a kayak? That’s what the Youth Group found out on November 8, an absolutely beautiful Saturday morning in Merritt Island. The group of eight included Wesley Hall, Summer Kauf, Caleb Lemons, Amanda & Joe Richardson, Scotty Rosenberger, and Steve and Mari Richardson. The six kayaks left the Richardson’s dock at 10:30 after the occupants slathered on sun screen, grabbed waters, paddles, whistles and life jackets; the destination - a trip into Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary.
The reflections of green trees and bright kayaks on the still waters of the sanctuary were beautiful. The air was warm enough that the occasional not-so-accidental major splash into a neighboring kayak was refreshing, not freezing. Either, the noise level may have affected the amount of wild life observed or some days are just better than others… Though we didn’t see any dolphins or many manatees, the group did see a soaring bald eagle, observed mallards skipping across the water, enjoyed the song and flight of a kingfisher, severely shocked one sleeping manatee, and startled several herons into flight. The water level was very high, allowing the kayaks to explore “Narnia-like” entrances into usually impassable areas of the sanctuary. Caleb demonstrated that kayaks may have a future in Venice; Wes didn’t seem to enjoy the serenading part of the experiment and seemed relieved when it all ended without capsizing.
When the crew got back to the Richardsons, the guys hopped in the pool but the rest with any sense didn’t… That’s some cold water! Almost everyone had seconds of lunch – there is something about being in a boat that makes one hungry!
Thanks to all of the Faith Family who loaned the youth group canoes and kayaks. It was VERY much appreciated! Did I mention that Michigan had snow the same morning – November 8?
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Submitted by
Mari Richardson |
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Your Phone Bill! |
Have you been Crammed? Faith has been, and I spent the better part of an afternoon last week overcoming the effects of this very common internet/utility company scam.
First, AT&T is NOT scamming their customers, but they are an UNWILLING part of it. Let me explain how this works, and what you have to do to protect yourself from it.
Many states – Florida is among them - allow third party companies to bill you through public utilities for services they provide which are related to the utilities’ product. In our particular instance it was for voice-mail service – on our fax line.
I must confess here that I have been remiss in carefully studying our phone bill. We have AT&T take the payment directly from the bank account, and they send me an e-mail with the amount. They also include a password protected link to view the bill, but I have not been doing this lately. Please forgive me for this oversight.
Here are a few ways the scam works:
1. Someone calls offering a “deal” of some sort, usually a discount book or a free coupon or something like that. To confirm the order they ask for your name and phone number.
2. While web-surfing you have a pop-up ad offering something similar, and, again, you have to enter your phone number and a name.
3. The most hideous version: off shore companies use phone number software and simply create hundreds of phone numbers and names to use.
These companies then send a billing request to another company (often just a shell corporation at the same address) which acts as a billing agent which sends the billing request to the utility (it doesn’t have to be the phone company) to have their monthly bill added to your utility bill. This bill is generally for an amount between $15 and $50. YOU DON’T HAVE TO AUTHORIZE IT. The utility is required by law to pass on this bill, and if you don’t pay it you are then in arrears on your utility bill and can have your service turned off!
These charges will appear on your bill, usually on the last page, under the heading “Other Companies Charges.” To add insult to injury the state and local governments tax these charges.
You can block third party billing on your phone bill by calling AT&T (1-866-620-6000) and ask to have a “Third Party Billing Block” placed on your number(s). However, AT&T cannot remove current charges, though they will refuse future billing attempts.
You must then call the billing agent company (they, of course, can do nothing) and get the phone number of the service company and then call to ask them to remove the service – if you have to do this, tell them you have been “crammed” and demand a refund for the entire time that you have been billed. Each of these calls will have you on hold for a long time, and after you get to speak to someone the line will seem to go dead occasionally – hang on, they are trying to frustrate you into hanging up – persevere! Maintain your Christian demeanor throughout this ordeal. (You would have been proud of me, well, most of the time, anyway.)
If you think you have been “crammed” you must act – it will never go away unless you stop it.
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Submitted by
Steve Richardson |
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From Greg Scott |
The following was received from Greg Scott. The article itself was a bit long for the newsletter, but it is well worth going to the link below to read the entire piece. (Faith Newsletter editor)
Burt
I thought this piece was very enjoyable and informative – thought you might like it. We are finding what the author says to be quite true of this area. I especially liked this paragraph:
“But such hatred is rare in my experience. More often there is instead a deep reserve of caution. This wariness is a byproduct of living a connected life. The outsider does not know or feel the history of shared experience. To have an address is not to live in a small town. Living in a small town means being connected to the flow of its collective life. One does not jump into such a stream without a shocking jolt of cold water. It takes time to acclimate oneself to this river. One has to submerge oneself, drifting along for awhile before your system becomes adjusted. One adapts to the river’s temperature, not the other way around. The community molds the individual by including him in the story of the town.”
Here’s the link: http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1230
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Hope you had a good Thanksgiving
Greg Scott |
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Kitchen Korner |
Al Stewart and I wanted to thank everyone for making our Thanksgiving dinner one of the best that we have ever had.
Our kitchen team had a lot to do with everything going smoothly. The turkey carvers were Frank Morrison, Bryan Holmes, and Tony Chambers. The gravy was made by Natalie Syms and Carol Chambers. Jean Poole, Denise Lemons, Mary Richardson, and Barbara Kalm cut pies and dished up our 60lbs each of potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, dressing and the five turkeys. Joaquin Hall brought in the youth group to serve our wonderful meal. If I left anyone out, I am sorry. I am just so thankful for everyone who helped us.
We are blessed to have a church family that works together to make it a special day for everyone to enjoy. Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Submitted by
Karen A. Thornton
I hope Karen, Karl and Al will forgive my adding the following but I think it’s something we should all be aware of. (Burt Pearson, Faith Newsletter editor)
Some of our church family may be unaware of the contributions to the success of this year’s thanksgiving dinner made by Karen and Karl Thornton and Al Stewart. For the benefit of those of us who mainly just enjoyed a great, hot turkey dinner with all the trimmings, here are some of the things we owe these faithful servants of the Lord thanks for.
Karen and Carl worked long and hard to arrange and set up all the tables and chairs, tablecloths and centerpieces on Thursday.
Karen made 60 pounds each of mashed potatoes and green beans.
Somehow, they kept it all hot and, unlike other years, no one was served cold food.
While we are talking about saying thanks to those who made the dinner such a success, thanks also to those who cooked the turkeys and made the desserts
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Al’s Recipes |
Some of our church family have asked Al Stewart for recipes for his Sweet Potato Casserole and Pecan Pie, both of which we had the opportunity to enjoy at this years thanksgiving dinner. He was good enough to provide the following recipes for the newsletter. They are as follows:
Sweet Potato Casserole
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup milk
Bake 25 minutes at 350 F
(the Topping)
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
Recipe can be doubled.
Southern Pecan Pie
2 cups pecan halves
1 (9 inch) unbaked pastry shell
3 eggs
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
Place pecan halves in a pattern on bottom of unbaked pastry shell. Beat eggs slightly; mix in corn syrup. Gently pour into unbaked shell. Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes; lower temperature to 350 F and cook additional 30 to 35 minutes (filling should be slightly less set in center than around edge).Yield: one 9 inch pie.
Double and make 3 pies.
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Submitted by
Al Stewart |
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Lesson Illustration |
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to church.
After a few weeks, the Pastor decided to visit. The Pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his Pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing.
In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the Pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth
all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.
As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless.
The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave, he slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the Pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you for your visit and for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church • next Sunday."
We often try to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
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From “The Fishwrapper”,
as submitted by Marian Sweigart |
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