Youth Update

Hello All,

I am so excited that God has brought myself and Michelle to this wonderful Church. We are so blessed to be around people that want to see the Kingdom of God grow and multiply. Thank you so much for the support as we begin our ministry here in this Church. For all of you who never get to be with the youth, I would like to give you an update on where we are at as a group. Every Wednesday we are averaging around 40 students and 6 adults, but we are also seeing new faces every week. Sunday mornings are also growing, weather it be the free donuts or just great kids there beginning to get behind our vision. We have recently started a youth praise band that 7 students are faithfully coming to. We also started something called Silent Praise which is kind of a mix between drama, sign language, and worship. Next on our list is to begin a youth leadership program that will enable some of our young people to take an active role in ministry. Overall I am very pleased with the support of the students and families, the sky is the limit to what could be, here at FBC Nevada.

P.S. - If you signed up for a youth pray partner, I hope you recieved your student and that you are actively praying for them and their families.

God Bless
Garrett

What if Jesus Had Not Come?

As the Advent Season approaches (November 29 is first Sunday in Advent), I pulled out an article by Marcus Norris, an attorney from Amarillo, Texas. He starts a list of things that would not exist if Jesus had not come; things we take for granted: No angelic announcements, no invitation to humble shepherds, no star to guide the wealthy and wise, no model of obedience in Joseph, no miraculous healings or feedings, no Sermon on the Mount, no washed feet, no cross, no empty tomb, no church, no New Testament, no Christian orphanages, no church-initiated or sponsored hospitals, no Salvation Army, no Christmas carols, no songs like "Amazing Grace," no hope beyond cemeteries, no great concepts of the dignity and worth of each individual. I am sure you can had to the list. But I was reminded of how different the world and we would be if Jesus had not come. That's a good thought going into the Advent Season.

Pastor Cox

Garrett's idea

I just checked my office mailbox and found a note from our youth pastor. I am assigned the name of one of our youth and it is my joy to pray for this person every day for six months. Garrett provided a list of needs for students and I will use that as I pray. I am so happy to do that! I would love to tell you the name of the young man but it is suppose to be a secret. I think the idea is great and I hope other adults will join with me in praying for students.

Pastor Cox

Ugly the Tomcat

Here is a story a friend emailed me 2 years ago that I found in my office the other day.

Ugly the Tomcat.

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.

The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, and even his shoulders.

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction.

If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love.

If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.

Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring.

Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.


Many people want to be richer, more successful,
well liked, beautiful, but for me...

I will always try to be Ugly.

How did this story affect you?

Steve

Steve and Lisa

Wow! Steve and Lisa Russ did a great job helping us look at our relationships this past Sunday morning. As they discussed how we can be loving in relationships, I thought there is hardly anyone to whom this topic would not apply. I would be interested in your comments. How did this impact your relationships? How did God speak to you through their sharing? If any of you were not able to be here this past Sunday AM, I would strongly urge you to listen to the sermon. The 40 DAYS OF LOVE has impacted my life. I hope that each of you are also becoming better lovers.

Pastor Cox

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

Earlier this year our daughter, Amanda Fisher, told me that she and Brandon were going to start giving Colson, age 8, a consistent allowance. He had to accomplish some chores to receive the five dollars. The parents told Colson that one dollar would go in the tithe envelope for God, two he could spend, and two he would put in savings. Amanda said she figured he would be disappointed that only two dollars were allowed for spending money. Instead, he said, "I would rather put two in the tithe and three in the savings." Amanda teased, "Where did he get his big heart? Certainly it can't be from Brandon!?" Of course the point is that we all inherit some selfish genes. A big heart comes from God. No wonder Jesus said that a little child shall lead them. Giving is seldom a pocket book matter. It is more often a heart matter.

Pastor Cox

Faith, Hope, and Love

Since we started the 40 DAYS OF LOVE last Sunday I spoke on "What Matters Most." Speaking of Paul's three verities, I mentioned faith and hope but the greatest is love and it reverberates forever. On the way out of worship, Dick Hacker asked, "But can you have love without faith and hope?" I love it when people ask questions like that. It is hard to answer while greeting a line of people but it got me to thinking. In our life on Planet Earth, I think the three definitely are intertwined. So, I think Dick is right. Without faith (trust) in others it would be hard to love. And without some anticipation or vision it would be hard to love. I suspect what the Apostle means is that beyond our life time, hope and faith will no longer be necessary. As our lives are swallowed up into eternity, there will be no longer any need for faith or hope. But since God IS love, love is forever and ever.

Pastor Cox