Spring is Here!

Hope everyone is doing well.

I hope that this week you are allowing God to change your:
Adversity to lead you to advancement,
Rivalry to rejoicing,
Testing into triumph, and
Death to yourself into gain for Christ.

Reminder - class Easter Egg Hunt this weekend at the Joneses. Email me for details if you did not get an e-vite.

prayers this week:
Tommy and Jessica
Angela's sister in law
Amalia's new baby boy

See y'all this Sunday morning!

MK

Happy New Year!

Wow! What a great turnout this morning. 42 people, including 8 guests.

Thanks to Ken Brumley for a stimulating (sorry for the pun but that's just who I am) first discussion about improving our marriages from a scriptural perspective.  Always good to start a message series on the topic of intimacy in marriage.

If you missed this morning, don't worry - you'll catch right back up next Sunday!

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 

Congratulations to Jeff Denson on winning the inaugural Convinced SMBS Fantasy Football Championship.  

I'm sure he'd like to thank Adrian Peterson for sitting out last week's Monday Night Football game and denying me the 2 points I needed to take him out.

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 

Prayer Requests:

Tommy Sutton - finishing chemo and moving on to radiation - pray for stamina and the effectiveness of chemo.

The Magills - busy schedule of traveling over the next few weekends - pray that their message comes out clear and that Christ's message falls on fertile ground.

Erin Phillips' friend Shannon - breast cancer - pray for complete healing and recovery.

Wayne Richards (my co-worker's father) - in ICU with head injury after a car accident - recovery from surgery and long term health.

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

See y'all next week!

- MK - 

Ask, and keep on asking...

Hope everyone had a good week and was safe from the storms over the weekend...

Thanks to Drew for an excellent lesson this morning over Ephesians 3:14-20, which was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians.  It can be a template for us to pray for a re-infusion or an inspiration of the Holy Spirit in our lives or in the lives of those we love.

Prayer is a powerful thing, and we must use that discipline to change our lives and the lives of our family and friends; it's not a one time thing, though.  We must be persistent in our prayer and keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, knowing that God will answer those prayers in His own time.  Our persistence is implied, but we know that our worldly "instant gratification" doesn't always translate to the type of persistence God desires.

Prayer request/update

Tommy is back in town and will be heading back to Dallas this week for a drain check and possible stent placement to decrease his drainage.  Please continue to pray for short-term drain and pain control, and long-term complete cure from cancer.

----------==========----------

"Fifth Sunday" next week!

Everyone bring your favorite breakfast dish.
We'll bring juice and have coffee as usual.
See y'all then!

October Already?

Thanks to all who were in class today for a good discussion about the depth of our sin, the power of God's grace, and the worth(lessness) of our works, as well as how not to boast in ourselves but deflect that praise/glory to the Lord!

Some couples in our class are doing the "Growing Kids God's Way" class at GABC, and our reading this week illustrates why we as parents should seek to be "set apart" as we die to sin (as Paul put it: "crucify the sinful nature") and live in Christ:

"The essential purpose of a holy lifestyle is that, by our behavior, we are to help define God to a world that does not know Him... The results of morally beautiful behavior reflective of Christ become a compelling testimony... Not only are we defining God to the world, we are defining God to our children.

Prayer Requests:

Tommy's MRI is this week, and chemo continues for now.

Jessica for the loss of her Grandfather and for safe travels this week.

Baby Grant is having a bronchoscopy (scope to evaluate his windpipe) in Dallas on Wednesday.

Randy is hoping for a big promotion to be decided this week.

Hope y'all have a great week!

In Christ,

MK

Baby Dedication

Baby Dedication

Thank you all for celebrating with all of the families who dedicated their precious babies to the Lord this morning. I was like a proud grandparent snapping photos! : )

September Already?!?

Just an update with announcements, etc.

Thanks to Drew for another excellent SMBS lesson, closing out our study of 1&2 Corinthians.
Take away thoughts (as best as I could write them down):
  Thorns let us see God's grace in our daily lives, apart from our initial salvation.
    James 1:2-4; Consider it joy when we face trials...
  Thorns are essential for spiritual growth; if not for thorns we wouldn't have to rely on God.
  Thorns keep us humble, reminding us that we are mortal.

Next week we begin Ephesians; I am really looking forward to what we can learn from this incredible book of God's Word!
 
Announcements: (and lots of 'em)

- Wednesday morning Magill Bible Study: starting a new book this week.  Contact Matt Magill for details.
- Wednesday evening dinner has resumed, now in the Crosswalk main room.  Goes from 4:45 until 6:00.  Cheal delicious food and fellowship.  Come early and stay out of the kitchen!
- WEBS at 6pm Wednesday nights; Brother David is going through Revelation.  If you can't get there, the video podcast is free on iTunes.
- Growing Kids God's Way at 6pm on Wednesday nights; week one is in the books but it's not too late to join.  See Angela's email earlier today for details.
- Thursday 9/9: Mother's Luncheon.  Angela has tickets and the ladies in our class will be sitting together.  Contact Angela for more information.
- Friday September 10th; Magills concert at Moore's store in Ben Wheeler.  Get a sitter and come on down.
- AWANA/GRAPPLE starts soon.  Sign-up on Sunday evening September 12th from 5:30 until 7pm.  gabc.org for details.
- Tuesday morning Bible Study led by Ms. Gillen (Drew's Mom); starts September 14th.  Contact Lindsay Gillen for details.
- Ladies evening Bible Study @ Magill's.  contact megan for details.  Likely Tuesday nights but TBD.
- September 21 - Come Pray With Me community-wide prayer rally at Bushman Center in Bullard.  For more info call 903-571-4291
- Breakfast of Champions on Friday September 24th at 6:30 AM - $5 tickets.  Judge Ken Starr (Baylor U, previously Special Prosecutor).  tickets at GABC.org.
- Camping at the ROC on September 24th (overnight) with Saturday morning breakfast.  Chris Phillips is going and would love to get more of the class involved.
- First Wednesday class prayer meeting; next one scheduled for Wednesday October 6th in the Upper Room prayer area in the Crosswalk Building.  Contact Chris Phillips or Matt Kincade for details.

Finally- some pics from the Adult Night at our house a few weeks ago; the "Not-So-Newlywed Game!"

See y'all next week!
MK

End of Summer, Back to School

All,
  Summer is winding down and we are getting ready to go back to school.
  As everyone's summer vacations are finishing we can start to get back to a more normal schedule.
  I have updated the class calendar re: donuts and the class baby dedication (9:45 service on September 19th INSTEAD of SMBS).
 

  Thanks to Matt M. for a very well-thought-out look at the first part of 2 Cor this morning!

  Per our discussion today, we will plan to look at one Wednesday per month as a class prayer evening, and use GABC's childcare services so we can concentrate on coming to God with as few distractions as possible.  Thanks, Chris, for reminding us to make this a priority.

  Below are some pics from the SMBS Family party a few weeks ago.

  Look forward to seeing everyone tonight at the Convinced SMBS "No-Kids Get Together" (as I like to call it) from 6-8 at our house!

MK

Convinced Class Cookout and School Supply Drive
Sunday, July 25th 5:30 - 7:30 pm
The Holman's House - 2219 Firestone, Hollytree West


SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
The GABC Missions Ministry is collecting Backpacks and School Supplies so that children can start the school year off right. As a SMBS class mission project, it would be awesome if we could all bring some school supplies to the party this Sunday night. We will pack bags and turn them in for these precious children from the Convinced Class. Bring whatever you can! I apologize for late notice...just had the idea today! : )

The following items are needed: (Approximate cost to fill a backpack is $50, blessing and equipping a child on the first day of school is priceless!)
Backpacks ($9.99 at Target)
Pencils
Pens
24 count Crayons
Manila Paper
Pink Pearl Erasers
Colored Pencils
Wide Ruled Notebook Paper
Markers
Folders (with pockets and brads)
Scissors
Space Makers (plastic containers)
Glue and Glue Sticks
Rulers
3 Ring Notebooks
Calculators
Red Pencils

An additional idea would be to add a $5.00 Student Bible from Lifeway.


FOOD SIGN-UP Reminder

Hamburgers/Hot Dogs/Buns - Holmans
Chips and Dips -
Corn Dip & Onion Souffle - Kincades
Hot Sauce - Ogletrees
Jones
Sides -
Chili - Fenders
Corn Salad - Freemans
Surprise Side - Magills
Faulks
Condiments -
Lettuce, Tomato,Pickle,Onion - Evans
Cheese,Mustard,Mayo,Ketchup - Willis
Desserts -
Fruit Pizza - Cantwells
Gillens
Zieglers
Napkins, Plates - Leischs
Drinks -
2 Capri Suns - Ogletrees
Suttons

Thanks everyone! Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday Morning and again for a really fun time Sunday Night!
Angela and Matt Kincade