BlessingsA u g u s t 2 0 1 0

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f B y r o m v i l l e B a p t i s t C h u r c h

InsideThe Blessed Struggle. . . p. 2Church Triumphant.. . . . p. 2Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3Monthly info. . . . . . . . . . p. 4Conference/Supper. . . . p. 4Last Roundup. . . . . . . . . p. 5New sermon series.. . . . p. 5Bridal shower tea. . . . . . p. 5Associational news. . . . . p. 5Christmas in August. . . . p. 6

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Pastor’s column

The blessed struggle

I find it interesting that, ofall the names God couldhave chosen for Hispeople, He chose “Israel.”And while differentopinions exist as to whatthe name Israel actuallymeans, it seems that thecontext in which the nameis given in Genesis 32favors the meaning “hestruggles with God.” Itwould seem that God, in

His infinite wisdom, chose to call Hispeople “strugglers.”

But what does it mean to struggle with God? Itmeans, in the first place, that we struggle with theprovidence of God. The tension between the alreadyand the not yet indicates that Christians live in asinful world, a world that is affected by sin andinhabited by sinners. Illness, disease, famine, andnatural disasters are all consequences of living in aworld that is itself affected by sin and is “not yet”made new. Lawlessness, violence, terrorism, and warare consequences of living in a world inhabited bysinners who have also “not yet” been made new orwho may never be.

Our struggle, however, is never to be against Him. Nomatter how dark His providence may be, we are neverto fight against God or to shake our fist at Him. Butthere are many times in the Christian life when wemay not understand what God is doing. There aremany times when we may question why “bad things”are happening to us. What is the Christian to do, forinstance, when the marriage breaks down? When thechild runs away, turns her back on the family, or diesan unexpected death? What is the Christian to dowhen the doctors say it is cancer? When an accidenttakes away all “quality of life” in an instant? Whenthe nation’s worst natural disaster destroys one’shome, business, church, and community? What is theChristian to do at times like this? Quite simply, he orshe is to struggle with God. Isn’t that what Job did?Through all the dark providences of his life, Job

struggled, and, like Jacob, he did not let go. Hewrestled, and he prevailed — despite the oppositionhe received from those closest to him.

The same is true for us. No matter how dark ourpathways may get, no matter how black the cloudsover our heads may be, we, like Job, are to strive withall our might and hold on until the day breaks — andit will eventually break. We are to say with Jacob: “Iwill not let you go until you bless me.” That is whatstruggling with the providence of God looks like. It isnot to be a joyless endurance. It is not a senseless painthat is only to be tolerated until it can be eliminatedaltogether. It is trusting God in the midst of hardshipand resting content in what He has sent our way,knowing that He really does intend all things for ourgood and for His glory. It is struggling well.

Because He lives,Andy

Transferred to theChurch Triumphant

Martha Olson HillJuly 2, 2010

WeeklySchedule

SUNDAYSunday School. . . . . . . . 10AMWorship. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11AMWorship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6PM

W EDNESDAYSupper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6PMPrayer Meeting. . . . . . . . . 7PMMission Friends. . . . . . . . 7PMGirls in Action. . . . . . . . . . 7PMChildren in Action. . . . . . . 7PM

August 2010Birthdays

2:00pm–3:30pmBridal shower forCaroline Collins

6:00pmConference andSpaghetti Supper

Seasoned Saintstrip to Cedar LaneSupper Club (Time TBA)

11:00am Assn’lWMU Meeting,Bethel Church

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

8-1 Keagan CavanahBrooke ThompsonSherry Wilkes

8-2 Sue Thompson8-3 Julie Humphries

Kim KnaggsJesse Raper

8-4 Marley CollierLarry CrutchfieldGage RoneySharon ThompsonJeffrey Witmer

8-5 Cheryl Foster8-7 Jimmie Collier8-8 Betty Barrett

8-8 Cameron BodreyMendy BodreyKelly WoodruffEd Youngblood

8-9 Wendy BarlowBrittnay KiddDale RaperJeremy WilkesBrandi Witmer

8-12 David ThompsonGarrett Wright

8-13 Abby DorsettDavid HendrixPaula McKinley

8-14 Daniel Brown

8-14 Rhonda Youngblood8-17 Martha Sellars8-18 Jeff Overton8-20 Jeff Lockerman8-24 Bragan Gambrell

Ronnie Hatcher8-26 Paula Pece8-27 Bob Latimer8-28 Laura Lamberth

Darlene StephensonJeff Witmer

8-29 Daniel Thompson8-30 Chris Johnson

Pray for these folks on their birthday.

6:00pm SpecialService (DetailsTBA) followed by

Homemade Ice

Cream in Saliba Hall

10:00am Womenon Mission (Out toeat after meeting)

7:00pm Assn’lExecutive Com.Meeting, HoustonCenter

National BananaSplit Day

Dog Days end

6:30pm Assn’lBrotherhood atHatley Church

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Schedule of Volunteers for AugustPlease remember it is up to you to arrange coverage if you are unable to serve on your scheduled day.

Date Flowers Nursery for

Sunday School

Nursery for

Morning Worship

Deacon of the

Week

Ushers

Aug. 1 Dianne

Thompson

Rhonda Youngblood Jill Branen Mark Smith Clinton Brannen

Ronnie Hatcher

Aug. 8 Michelle

Kitchens

Mary Kathrryn

Blankenship

Sue Youngblood Floyd Tucker Daniel Thompson

Matthew Youngblood

Aug. 15 Open Mary Kathrryn

Blankenship

Kimberly Godfrey Jimmy Lockerman Jimmy Hendrix

George Massey

Aug. 22 Open Mary Kathrryn

Blankenship

Katrina West Arthur Roney Mark Smith

Quint Smith

Aug. 29 Open Suzy Grantham Brenda Lockerman Mark Smith Mark Peavy

Arthur Roney

July Sunday School Stats

Senior Adults 8FBIC 12CIA 4VOC 7Young Adults 6Older Youth 46 , 7 & 8 Graders 0th th th

3 , 4 , & 5 Graders 5rd th th

1 & 2 Graders 6st nd

Older Preschoolers 2Younger Preschoolers 5Nursery 1General Officers 3TOTAL 60

Financial $ummary

June receiptsGeneral offerings $15,735.98Special–kitchen stove 27.00Mailbox Club Offering 85.00Memorials 90.00TOTAL 15,937.98

June disbursementsGeneral expenses 12,468.58Playground equipment 1,196.00Pastorium maintenance 930.09Georgia Baptist Children’s Home 20.00Local missions and benevolence 23.28Cooperative P r o g r a m 1,346.72Houston Baptist Association 517.96TOTAL $16,502.63

Please pray for....

UDeacon Nominating Committee–Bob Latimer,Elizabeth Taylor and Floyd Tucker.

URegular Nominating Committee–Lillian Gresham,Keith Lamberth, Jimmy Lockerman, DianneThompson and Rhonda Youngblood.

UDirector of missions (aka associational missionary)search for Houston Baptist Association. Searchcommittee members are Craig Bussee, Carroll Camp,Net Lewis, Brenda Lockerman and Ray Sullivan.

Bridal Shower Teafor

Caroline Collins Bride-elect of Josh Peavy

August 152:00–3:30 p.m.

Saliba Hall

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VBS Last RoundupDespite the blazing heat, a crowd showed up for theVBS Last Roundup on July 25 at 6:00 p.m. Immediately after the scheduled fireside devotion(which turned into a under-the-carport-where-the-shade-was-devotion) by Pastor Andy Blankenship, thereal draw to this event took place. That being JillBrannen, Laura Lamberth and Rhonda Youngbloodeach kissing a cow. These ladies were doomed tothis fate because the boys outgave the girls in theVacation Bible School offering back in June. Andeven though the picture above doesn’t show it, theseladies were good sports and did indeed kiss the cow.

(See more pictures on our website.)

Dear Byromville Baptist Church,

Please continue to pray for Houston Baptist Camp.We had the largest increase in children this year andmany decisions were made with one baptism in thepool. We praise you for all of your support, whether time, food, money for meals or scholarships. Everything was appreciated. The desserts youprovided for Happi’s retirement party on July 1 weregood and wonderful.

Ruthel Patrick and Camp Committee

Editor’s note: Our churchprovided the desserts forsupper on the last campday which was also CampDirector Happi Keenan’sretirement party. Specialthanks to Elaine Phelps,Mary Greer and TerriGregory for their baking. Pictured is Happi with thebeautiful and delicious cake Terri made.

Caroline is registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond,Target, Belks and Flint River Pottery.

Associational news

Associational Brotherhood Aug. 2 at HatleyBaptist Church with James Spires as featured speakerand Brenda Brown providing special music. Themeeting begins at 6:30 p.m. with a meal.

Associational WMU Meeting Aug. 21at Bethel Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. After a time ofinformation and inspiration, we’ll enjoy lunchtogether. Desserts and beverage will be provided. Churches are asked to bring a salad.

Byromville Baptist Church713 Patterson Street ` POB 126Byromville, GA 31007www.byromvillebaptistchurch.com478-433-2505Pastor: Andy Blankenship

NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATION

POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 2

BYROMVILLE GA

31007

Blessings is published monthly by Byromville Baptist Church. Send news items and/or comments to Editor Brenda

Lockerman at POB 217, Byromville, GA 31007, email to brendalockerman@windstream.net or call 478-433-2791 .

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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GAs and CiA collecting Christmas gifts

During August our Girls in Actions (GAs) and Children in Action (CiA) are collecting gifts for North Americanmissionaries Pearline and W. A. Burns who serve at the Savannah Baptist Center in Savannah, GA. The GAs andCiA will travel to Savannah on September 11 to deliver the gifts and tour the center. There will be a Christmas treein the connecting foyer where gifts can be placed except for the gift cards–please give those to Elaine Phelps. Listed below are the items being requested.

* gift cards: Walmart, Office Depot, Home Depot, Staples * notebooks * paper * crayons * pencils * book bags (clear or mesh) * 5-oz. paper cups * paper towels, napkins, and plates * plastic forks, spoons, and knives * disposable baby diapers * toilet paper

The Savannah Baptist Center serves adults through senior ladies Bible studies, Christian Women’s Job Corps®,and ladies sewing classes. Vacation Bible Schools and after-school programs are offered for kids. Kids participatein Bible studies and crafts and activities, as well as receive meals and help with their homework. The centerprovides clothing and food assistance on a weekly basis and hosts an annual health fair, Christmas Store, a fallfestival and other special holiday events for the entire community.