Ne Pilg i He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff...Mark 6:8
Journey WiFall ter Winter 2015
I This Issue:
True Mea i g of Christ as Fro the Pastor’s Desk A Seaso of Preparaio Fro the Missio ar ’s Desk Just for You Christ as Quiz A Daughter Re e ers Ne Me ers Si Mistakes of Weight Loss Se ret of Fi a ial Ste ardship Fro the Musi Depart e t
Chur h E e ts Christ as
De e
er
Wat h Night
De e
er
Bi le Stud
Ja uar
Ad isor Cou il
Ja uar 9
Quarterl Meei g
Ja uar
Bla k Histor Mo th
Fe ruar
Vale i e
Fe ruar
Pal Su da Easter
Mar h Mar h
The t ue ea i g of Ch ist as is lo e. Joh : - says, "Fo God so lo ed the o ld that he ga e his o e a d o ly “o , that hoe e elie es i hi shall ot pe ish ut ha e ete al life. Fo God did ot se d his “o i to the o ld to o de the o ld, ut to sa e the o ld th ough hi ." The t ue ea i g of Ch ist as is the ele aio of this i edi le a t of lo e. The eal Ch ist as sto is the sto of God's e o i g a hu a ei g i the pe so of Jesus Ch ist. Wh did God do su h a thi g? Be ause He lo es us! Wh as Ch ist as e essa ? Be ause e eeded a “a io ! Wh does God lo e us so u h? Be ause He is lo e itself Joh : . Wh do e ele ate Ch ist as ea h ea ? Out of g aitude fo hat God did fo us, e e e e His i th gi i g ea h othe gits, o shippi g Hi , a d ei g espe iall o s ious of the poo a d less fo tu ate. The t ue ea i g of Ch ist as is lo e. God lo ed His o a d p o ided a a —the o l Wa —fo us to spe d ete it ith Hi . He ga e His o l “o to take ou pu ish e t fo ou si s. He paid the p i e i full, a d e a e f ee f o o de aio he e a ept that f ee git of lo e. "But God de o st ated His o lo e fo us i this: hile e e e sill si e s, Ch ist died fo us" ‘o a s : .
Three Esse ials Reaso s to Tha k God Fo
the Pasto ’s Desk
As e app oa h the holida seaso , I ould like to e i d us that God has ee o de full good to us all. God has lessed us i so a dife e t a s; so e He has lessed ith eauiful ho es, su essful a ee s, outsta di g health a d so e He has lessed ith i tellige t i ds, health a d eauiful fa ilies oth iologi al a d spi ituall . It ould e a sha e if e do ot pause du i g this holida seaso —o ete et if e do ot pause—a d gi e Hi tha ks e ause of ho He is. He is ou eato , o de ful ou selo , a d ou egi i g a d ou e d. The Bi le e i ds us to let e e ythi g that has eath p aise the Lo d. God is t ul o th of ou ado aio to a ds Hi , He is o th of ou app e iaio a d tha kful ess. I ill like to lea e us ith th ee good easo s to e tha kful fo a ight God. . We eed to tha k God for forgi e ess Jesus a e that th ough the sheddi g of His lood ou si s a e fo gi e e ause He ade ato e e t fo si i d ou sel es a k i the ight elaio ship ith the Fathe a d spe d ete it i Hea e .
e s, that
e
ill
. We eed to tha k God for fa il God eated us i His i age ale a d fe ale, Ada a d E e a d told the to eate the i st fa il . It as i po ta t to God the a d is sill i po ta t to God o . God i thed us i u i ue fa ilies oth iologi all a d spi ituall . We g o as atu e people ith fa il e e s e ause fa il uilds ha a te . As fa il e e s, e eed to p aise o e a othe , app e iate o e a othe s tale ts a d spi itual gits. We eed to suppo t o e a othe i thei a i iies. We eed to e the e th ough ou fa il e e s t ails a d t i ulaio s. Fa il e e s eed to e g eat e ou age s a d suppo te s. Fa il e e eed to e the e o spe ial o asio s su h as i thda s, a i e sa ies, a d life ilesto es su h as g aduaio s, a d dedi aio s. We eed to e a e fa il at hu h e ause the Chu h is o p ised of fa ilies as God has o dai ed it. . We eed to tha k God for ei g sui ie t God p ote ts us o like he p ote ted the Is aelite i the ilde ess. God is al a s a o i e God. “o, this seaso a d e e da gi e God the glo goes up lessi gs o e do .
ilde ess. God p o ides food a d shelte
o
like he did i the
he dese es a d I p o ise that ou ill e less. Whe p aises a d tha kful ess
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Ch o i les
:
A Seaso of Preparaio Wi te is a do a t seaso . It s a i e he t ees e o e a e a d ost of the g ass, pla ts a d lo e s die of. But i te is also a i e of p epa aio —as oots a d t ee saps espo d to soil a d te pe atu e ha ges to p epa e fo g o th that o es i the sp i g. I u h the sa e a , ou a d I go th ough spi ituall do a t seaso s. These a e the seaso s he God see s sile t… he ou d ea s a d isio s fo the futu e see lifeless. But although e a ot see o feel a thi g e ii g, it does t ea othi g is happe i g. A lot has to happe o the i side of us efo e e a e ead to ha dle the futu e God has fo us. Just as i te p epa es pla ts a d t ees fo a e i e ha a te is de eloped a d st e gthe ed. “t o g of g o th a d ha est. I i d the e a e a lot of people do t ha e st o g, Ch ist like ha a te ; all the tale t i
eathe , a spi ituall do a t seaso is a i e of p epa aio — he ou ha a te is esse ial fo ithsta di g sto s that ill o e du i g seaso s ho ha e the gits a d tale ts to take the so e he e e ii g, ut if the the o ld o t keep the the e.
God has so ethi g pla ed fo ou, a d if ou e ot li i g i the fulill e t of His pla fo ou, the o is the seaso of p epa aio . ‘est assu ed, ou e ot alo e. We all go th ough i es like this. The Bi le tells us that e e Jesus eeded i e to g o a d i ease i isdo , statu e a d i ea s efo e He as ead to ake a glo al i pa t th ough His th ee- ea i ist Luke : . He e a e th ee i sights I e lea ed that a help ou
ake p og ess to a d ou goals, pla s a d isio s du i g do
a t seaso s:
E a i e our oi es. It see s that a people do t eall k o the sel es a d u de sta d h the do hat the do. “elf-de epio is eas to fall i to, a d o e of the ha dest thi gs to fa e. But he e a e illi g to fa e the t uth a out ou sel es a d e a i e ou oi es, God ill help us ha ge fo the ete a d get o t a k ith His ill fo ou li es. Get out of our o fort zo e. Befo e e a o e fo a d i to a e thi g, e usuall ha e to let go of so ethi g e e ee doi g a hile. God udges us outside of ou o fo t zo es to a d u fa ilia e pe ie es to e ou age us to el o Hi . A d all too ote , e t to ha g o to hat is fa ilia efo e e ha e o ide e that the e thi g is ight fo us. We estle ith ou sel es, o de i g if e eally hea d f o God o if e a eally t ust Hi . If ou keep o e foot he e ou a e hile the othe foot st et hes to a d so epla e e , ou ill e e tuall lose ou fooi g a d fall o e . God a ts us to t ust Hi doi g hat He a ts us to do a d goi g he e He a ts us to go. We ust lea to let go of hat e ha e efo e e take hold of so ethi g e , a d lea to el o God to eet all ou eeds. E ra e dis ipli e. The Bi le tells us that o dis ipli e i gs jo , ut see s g ie ous a d pai ful; ut ate a ds it ields a pea ea le f uit of ighteous ess to those ho ha e ee t ai ed it He e s : AMP . Dis ipli e is t fu , ut it is esse ial fo ou ha a te de elop e t. “elf-dis ipli e is a f uit of the “pi it that e ui es i e to de elop p ope l . “elf-dis ipli e is de eloped he e do the ight thi g o siste tly, o e a d o e agai fo a lo g i e. It a i lude pa i g of de ts, ot o e -spe di g, gei g p ope ut iio a d e e ise, ha gi g the a ou speak a out ou self a d othe s, a d spe di g ualit i e ith God a d i His Wo d e e da . As ou e o e dis ipli ed i e e a ea of ou life, ou ill e ete e uipped to ha dle igge espo si iliies i the futu e. God has a azi g pla s fo ou life! He a ts ou to fulill ou d ea s a d li e a life of lessi g, hope a d p o ise. I hope ou e e ou aged toda . You ill get the e—as lo g as ou a e illi g to do ou pa t a d t ust God to do His pa t. A d the o e ou lea o a d t ust i Hi th ough that p o ess, the soo e ou ll e ead fo hate e He has p epa ed fo ou. Fo
Jo e Me e s Mi ist ies, su
ited B Bo
ie W ight
Lo e
Missio a
Choi e ot
Cha e
Fo
Desk
Desk: As e e du e this alk of life, e ust e e e that God has us he e fo a pu pose. We a ot k o hat ou pu pose is ut hile e e du e the pleasu e of li i g, thi k a out those that a e ot. I a ot speaki g of those ho ha e go e o . I a speaki g of those ho pla ith life itself. This is ot la eli g a g oup of people, this is e e o e i ludi g self. What is ou pu pose a d h a e e taki g life so u se ious as it a e? We ha e the faith o should I sa the elief that God is. But e sho so litle lo e ith those ho e sha e God ith hethe i fello ship ith Ch ist o ot. We see to o l a t to speak to those e like, p a fo those e like, a d sha e Lo e ith those e like. Well, hat if Jesus o l hose a e tai g oup of people of ho he liked to fello ship ith. Whe e ould e e? Whe p a i g fo a Chu h Fa il that's e a tl hat that ea s...the hole hu h...a d he e lea e this pla e of o ship, it should t stop at the doo . We should also take it to the outside o ld. I pe so all ha e a issue ith this. Ho e e , aski g God to help e alo g jou e , He has pla ed o e sot spots i hea t that I e e thought I ould ha e. Yes, I sill sa hu ful thi gs. But lo i g God akes e ealize that sa i g hu ful thi gs, I let so eo e take e out of ha a te hi h is ot good. M pu pose is ot i ii g. I as ot o ith a pe i ha d, ut spi it guides e to a ept ha ge fo His pu pose. “o I pu posel p a fo fello a . I pu posel p a fo hu h as a hole. I pu posel p a fo the i ist ies a d I pu posel p a that God ill keep e hu le e ough to a e fo all a ki d hethe good o ad. Let s take the i e e put i at the Alta to go to a pu posel highe le el. Help so eo e alo g the a . “peak to e e o e, sho ki d ess ega dless of ho ou feel at the o e t. T ust a d elie e ou ill pu posel a t to do thi gs fo God s pu pose ou o all ould 't. I pu posel lo e ou all e ause I a a d the e s othi g ou a do a out that.
Just for You: Out the Bad Ha its
Bad ha its eed oo to ope ate. Not u h-the e p et le e ut the e a e situaio s he e the a t get a foot hold. If ou spe d ou e e i gs at a health lu , good lu k s eaki g a iga ete i . O e good st ateg fo keepi g ou ad ha its at a is to e og ize hat ou te ptaio s a e, a d the set up ou life i su h a a that the ha e o oo to ope ate. Fill ou life ith so a Fill your life posii e, spi ituall eai i g thi gs that with so many the e s o oo fo a thi g else. If ou a e positive., te pted to s a k i the e e i g, the do t keep u health s a ks i the house. If ou spiritual te d to o e eat he o ed, the e su e ou reairming ha e so ethi g to f uiful to put ou i e i to. things... Choose a i iies that help ill that spa e ithi ou, ou God-spa e, ith the feeli gs of lo e a d o plete ess ou a e looki g fo . I stead of spe di g the eeke d at hi g TV, isit a f ie d o elai e ou ha e ot see i a lo g i e o go to a Ch isia o fe e e. As God sa s, Do ’t li k up ith those ho pollute you. I a t you all fo yself. Co. : , The Message. A othe good a to spe d i e is helpi g so eo e else i eed. With Lo e, MLK f o
Jo e Me e
the Missio a
Ma io A de so
Bi li al Tri ia Quesio s Mu h of hat e elie e a out the Ch ist as “to is eall a le di g of the t o i fa a ai es fou d i Gospels of Mathe a d Luke o i ed ith a it of lege d. He e s a fu a to test ou k o ledge of the Ch ist as “to to see hat ou eall k o a out the i th of Jesus! All of the a s e s a fou d i Mathe & a d Luke “ee “iste Y o e fo the “ iptu es a d A s e s. P ize fo the o e t i st a s e s Who told Ma & Joseph to go to Bethlehe ? a. A a gel . A d ea . Caesa Augustus d. Joh the Bapist Whe did the Magi egi follo i g the sta ? a. Whe the let He od. . Whe the sa it i the East. . Whe the sa it i the West. d. A out : G ee i h Mea Ti e What did the I keepe sa to Ma a. We ha e o oo i the i . . You a sta i ou sta le. . The Holida I is ot too sha . d. a a d . e. I keepe ? What i keepe ?
& Joseph?
Whe e did the Magi i d the hild Jesus? a. I a sta le. . I a house. . I the Holida I , hi h as ot too sha d. I a a e. e. Who k o s?
.
Whe e did the shephe ds i d the hild Jesus? a. I a sta le. . I a house. . I the Holida I , hi h as ot too sha . d. I a a e. e. Who k o s? What a i als e e a ou d the a. “heep, goats, a d a hals. . Ba e, Will , a d Flippe . . Who k o s? d. “heep, goats, a d do ke s.
a ge ?
Ho did Ma a d Joseph get to Bethlehe ? a. The alked she addled . He alked, she ode a do ke . . Li ousi e ith all the i i s'. d. Who k o s? What e e the "Magi?"
a. Wise Me . . Ki gs. . Ast ologe s/Ast o o e s d. College p ofesso s o “a ai al e. Who k o s, ut if the e e o e the ould ha e asked fo di e io s a d ee the e eeks ea lie . Ho a Magi e e the e? a. . . d. Who k o s? What did the a gels si g to the shephe ds? a. "Glo to God i the highest, a d o ea th pea e to all people..." . "Glo to God i the highest, a d o c. "Glo to God i the highest, a d o ea th pea e to e .." d. All of the a o e a e i plied. What as the a e of the a gel ho appea ed to Joseph a d told hi to take Ma a d Jesus to Eg pt? a. Ga iel . Mi hael . U iel d. No e of the a o e BONU“ QUE“TION: We e Ma Jesus as o ? a. T ue . False . No e of the a o e.
a d Joseph
a ied he
A Daughter Re e I
ers
e e ei g othe , I e e e ho fa il o ie ted a d spi itual she as. I e e e ho she lo ed the Lo d a d he fa il a d the Chu h fa il . “he as a a id hu h o ke . “he as p eside t of the Missio a Mi ist at Ne Pilg i fo o e ea s. “he as a pio ee of all i es i he a ea s se i g as Missio a P eside t a d a Chu h a d “u da “ hool o ke . “he ep ese ted Ne Pilg i all o e G ee ille Cou t a d Lau e s Cou t o Chu h p og a s. “he as a p a e a io . Whe e e she e t, she as ell k o fo he soul si i g p a e s. “he ould si the hu h ith he p a e s e ause she pou ed out he hea t a d soul i he p a e s. “he as ote all o to p a Alta Calls o Wo e Da P og a s fo a hu hes i this a ea. Whe she p a ed, the spi it le el ould ise i the hu h e ause she tou hed so a hea ts a d souls fo she ould p a ou soul happ . “he as e e lost fo o ds. “he ould al a s ha e a spee h ead , so he she e t to hu hes a d as asked to speak i ehalf of Ne Pilg i Missio a she as ead .
Mrs. Anne Mae Kilgore Durham
“he as a de oted ife a d the othe of hild e of he o daughte s a d so , plus adopted so s, foste so s, a d step daughte . “he also as a foste othe a d he ho e as ope ed to a hild e ithout ho es. “he as alled Ma a A e i the eigh o hood. Ma a A e, e ill al a s iss the o t i uio ou ade to the fa il , to Ne Pilg i Bapist Chu h, to the Missio a Mi ist a d to the eigh o hood. I e e e ou, Ma a A e, he I hea the so g, Ma The Life I Li ed “peak Fo Me. You Daughte , Cha lesei a
Pastor Greer el o es t o e
e
ers to the hur h fa il .
Si Mistakes i Weight Loss
You’re skippi g eals. It a see ou te i tuii e, ut t i g to push of eals to sa e alo ies fo late ill a ki e, leadi g to o e eai g late i the da . “i k to a s hedule of p ope l spa ed eals a d s a ks to a oid spiki g a d ashi g e e g le els. You’re ot ooki g e ough. Meals p epa ed a a f o ho e ha e o e sodiu , fat a d alo ies tha hat ou a ake at ho e, he e ou o t ol the i g edie ts. “ta t ooki g o e a d ou aistli e ill tha k ou. You do ’t ha e a pla . A litle p epa aio ill go a lo g a . A oid i pulse shoppi g a d i pulse takeout o de s taki g the i e to p ep a si ple eekl eal pla a d shoppi g list. You’re forgei g a out e er ise. “ei g ealisi e e ise goals a d si ki g to the is just as i po ta t as o ii g to ha gi g ou diet. ‘egula e e ise ill ot o l help u alo ies ut also p o ote i eased lea od ass, hi h ill also e eit ou eta olis . You’re sill thi ki g less is ore. Not eai g e ough a sa otage su essful eight loss. “e ial diete s sill a t to e e t a k to slashi g alo ies to shed pou ds. The p o le is that ui g a k o e e g aka alo ies d a ai all ill o l i g eta olis to a s ee hi g halt. The NIH dei es too fe alo ies as fe e tha , alo ies pe da . You’re ei g too hard o ourself. “o ei es the est a to sta o t a k is to de iate f o ou pla . T i g to o pletel a oid highe - alo ie foods that ou lo e a lea e ou ite a d f ust ated — the e s othi g health a out that! Allo ou self the o asio al i dulge e.
Fi a ial Ste ardship Luke : If the efo e ye ha e ot ee faithful i the u ighteous ess ho ill o it to you t ust the t ue i hes?
a
o ,
How we ha dle
o ey...
Ho e ha dle o e i lue es our fello ship ith the Lord. Jesus e uates ho e ha dle ou o e ith the ualit of ou spi itual life. If e ha dle ou o e p ope l a o di g to the p i iples of “ iptu e, e g o lose to Ch ist. Ho e e , if e a e u faithful ith it, ou fello ship ith Hi ill sufe . This is illust ated i the pa a le of the tale ts, he e the aste e og izes a d e a ds the faithful ess of his se a t: Mathe : …Well do e, thou good a d faithful se a t: thou hast ee faithful o e a fe thi gs, I ill ake thee ule o e a y thi gs: e te thou i to the joy of thy lo d. As e ha dle o e God s a , e ha e a oppo tu it to e te i to the jo of a o e i i ate elaio ship with our
Lord. Possessio s o pete ith the Lord for irst pla e i our li es. Mo e is a p i a o peito ith Ch ist fo the lo dship of ou li es. Jesus tells us e ust hoose to se e o l o e of these t o aste s. Mathe : No a a se e t o aste s: fo eithe he ill hate the o e, a d lo e the othe , o else he ill hold to the o e, a d despise the othe . Ye a ot se e God a d a o [ o e ]. O ership or ste ardship? The Lo d o s all ou possessio s. He eated all thi gs i the i st si da s, a d He e e t a sfe ed the o e ship of His eaio to people. ‘e og izi g God s o e ship is u ial i allo i g Jesus Ch ist to e o e the Lo d of ou o e a d possessio s. Deute o o y : Hea e is the LORD’s . . . the ea th also, ith all that the ei is. Be faithful ith hat e are gi e . The o d that est des i es ou pa t is ste a d. A ste a d is a a age of so eo e else s possessio s. The Lo d has gi e us the autho it to e ste a ds. Ou espo si ilit as ste a ds a e su ed up i o e o d – faithful ess – ega dless of ho u h He has e t usted to us. Co i thia s : …It is e ui ed i ste a ds, that a a e fou d faithful. E a tl hat is de t? The di io a dei es de t i ludes o e o ed to edit a d o pa ies, a o tgage, a d past due ills. “ iptu e does ot sa Ro a s : sa s, O e o a a y thi g. The A De t is o sidered sla er . P o e s
:
as o e that a pe so is o ligated to pa to a othe . This k loa s, o e o o ed f o elai es o f ie ds, the ho e that de t is a si , ut it dis ou ages the use of de t. The i st pa t of pliied Ve sio sa s, Keep out of de t a d o e o a a ythi g.
The i h uleth o e the poo , a d the o o e is se a t to the le de .
The Ne Pilgri
Bapist Chur h Musi Depart e t prese ted a
usi al tri ute to Walter Ha ki s.
Fo the ith o se ui e ea , Ma uila Wi sto has ea ed a top seat o the Ca oli a Youth “ pho O hest a. The Ca oli a Youth O hest a o sists of o e t o hu d ed stude ts f o the Upstate a d pa ts of No th Ca oli a ho e el i usi . This ea , the O hest a has ee i ited to pa i ipate i a o e lifei e oppo tu it to pe fo at Ca egie Hall i Ne Yo k Cit . The fa il is aski g fo ou suppo t a d p a e s i this e dea o .
Cedri Shell re ei i g a s holarship ith his fa il .
“taf: Y o
e O e s, Ke ala Wi sto , JoA
e Le is, Jessi a O e s, a d Dea o La
Wesfield