Most of us don’t really like to contemplate our own mortality. Something within us refuses to face the reality that we are only temporary residents in this world. What if you knew that you had just one month to live? How would your life change? What would you do different? What things would you clear from your over-filled calendar? What have you been putting off that would be moved to the top of your to-do list? Are there relationships that you would like to change before your

final day here on earth? Are there things that you would want to say before you breathed your last breath? Is the legacy you would like to leave behind firmly established? I’ve walked beside many folks who were informed by their doctors that it was time to put their houses in order because their days were limited. It’s been interesting to hear and to observe the transformation of priorities. Suddenly all the temporal things that seemed to demand top priority have been demoted and the things that are so often taken for granted are promoted to the place of greatest importance. Relationships become richer and more meaningful. Minutes become priceless treasures — each invested with purpose and filled with love. Grudges are laid to rest.

Never have I heard a terminal patient say — “If only I had worked a few more hours.” No one facing death has ever said to me, “Preacher, I just want to make a few more bucks.” I have never met a man or a woman who knew that their days were limited who felt like their top priority was to get a bigger house, a newer automobile, or a faster fishing boat.

Without exception — the focus shifts to personal relationships, quality time, and spiritual preparation. Why do we have to come face to face with our immediate mortality before we make those adjustments? Why not choose to begin a journey with me into a thirty-day venture towards a “No-regrets life.” Sign-up today to participate in a 5 week study entitled “One Month to Live.” The journey will begin January 11, 2009. I believe it will radically change your life.

Donny Harbers

First Baptist Church 217 SW Ave B

Hamlin, TX 79520

Volume 5 JANUARY 2009 Issue 1

Financial Snapshot

Year to Date: December 21, 2008

Budget Required: $419,082.81

Budget Received: $459,495.74

Over Budget: $40,412.93

Fir

st B

apti

st C

hu

rch

of

Ham

lin

217

So

uth

wes

t A

ve. B

H

amlin

, Tex

as 7

9520

P

hone

: 325

-576

-366

4 F

ax: 3

25-5

76-2

800

fbch

amlin

@at

t.net

Bul

k M

ailin

g U

S Po

stag

e Pa

id

Perm

it #3

6 H

amlin

, Tex

as

Phone – 325.576.3664 Fax – 325.576.2800 Devotional Line – 325.576.3668

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

M.O.M. (for mothers of preschoolers)

January 6th 10:30 a.m.

January 20th 10:30 a.m.

The nursery will be available.

For children grades 1-5 Meets Sunday mornings at 9:20 a.m.

CH

UR

CH

OFF

ICE

CLO

SE

D:

Jan

ua

ry 1

, 2

00

9

1 Jill Bell Jonathon Franco Anne Prewit Cinda Shuping

4 Arva Pace 5 Bernice Moore 7 Chick Hewett

Kelly Jeffrey Kenneth Link

8 Russ Ponder Eileen Terrell Katy Smith

10 Eric Bell Wanda Neal

12 Wonnie Barnett 13 Kris Buchanan 14 Shannon Barbee 16 Anita Reid 17 Bettye Lawlis 18 Joyce Branscum

Johnny Jeffrey 19 Iva Lanhan 20 Shirley Brock 21 Lonnie Powell 22 Roddy Haley

Hollis Stephens James Turner

23 Kendall Massey 24 Kim Ponder

Ray Ulmer Amber Carter

27 George Bonds Cason Buchanan

30 Mary Brady 31 Joe Bob Jackson

Grettna Paige

GO TELL THE STORY OF JESUS

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS GOAL:

$16,544.00 RECEIVED TO DATE:

$14,387.00

CHILDREN’S CHOIR & TEAMKID

Will not meet December 24, 31 And January 7

The new semester begins January 14

January 15th 5:30 p.m.

Page 2 Vo l u m e 5 : I s s u e 1 Th e F i r s t Vo i c e Vo l u m e 5 : I s s u e 1 Page 4 Th e F i r s t Vo i c e

A friend of mine recently had a heart attack while on a trip to San Antonio. His family shared how they were so blessed to be only blocks away from a hospital when it occurred. Within minutes after arriving, the emer-gency room team found out that he had 100% blockage in his arteries, not allowing the flow of blood to his heart — which deprived the rest of the body of the oxy-gen and all the good things the blood carries needed to sustain life.

My friend’s wife told me of how this was a “big awakening” for them . Because of this, they are making many changes in what they eat and do on a daily basis to get healthier.

There are many people out there who are on the verge of a big awaken-ing in their spiritual lives if they don’t heed the signs or symptoms of a dying heart. Their life is but a heart-beat away from an attack that will make them realize their need to make some major changes in their lives.

I’m talking about an incident that may cause them to open their eyes and see that they are not living right before God and their relationship with Him is slowly dying. They continue to take in and do things that have negatively affected their relationship with God. They have filled their minds and heart with the filth of the world and they are spiritually dying.

I know the Bible tells us that nothing shall separate us from the love of God. In other words, God will still love you no matter what you do. He loves you enough to forgive you and wants you to change from your sin-ful ways.

Isn’t it sad how people separate themselves from God by continuing to do what God does not want them to do. They lead a life rejecting God and having no love for Him at all. Yet they expect to live spiritually healthy lives.

What changes are you making now so that you can live a spiritually healthier life in Christ? Don’t wait for an unfortunate circumstance or terrible consequence to occur before you make those changes. But seek Him and treasure His word in your heart daily, that you may not sin against Him. Seek His wisdom and direction for your life and eat of His food and drink of His wine forsaking your folly and live (Psalm 119:00 & Prov. 9:5, 6).

Happy New Year to you and yours and may 2009 be a healthier year for you in spirit, mind and body.

Paul R. Matta Pastor Primera Mision Bautista

Paul R. Matta Pastor, Primera Mision BautistaVo l u m e 5 : I s s u e 1 Page 3 Th e F i r s t Vo i c e

S tudent M inistry N ews Associate Pastor Minster to Students

*Fall Schedule*

Middle School 5:00 Doors open for MS free time 6:00-6:45 Bible study Combined Worship and Meal 6:45-7:30 MS & HS combined for meal and

worship High School 7:30-8:15 High School Bible study 8:15-9:00 Doors open for HS free time

Bible Study

Sunday mornings 9:30-10:35

Sunday Nights

@ the Student Center

Over the past three years I have had the privilege of watching Wanda May pour her life into the lives of middle school girls who have attended her Sunday School class, but she started way before I arrived. To be exact, you have watched her for the past thirteen years as she served this church in the role of Sunday School teacher faithfully and diligently. I love volunteer teachers, who are really mentors that play a huge role in the upbringing of the kids they teach. Many memories were made in the past 13 years that will never be forgotten. I believe every young girl who came through her class learned a lot, but there is one thing they knew without any hesitation and that is she loved and truly cared for each one of them. Thank you so much, Wanda, for 13 years of faithful service to God through teaching and loving teenage girls.

Disciple Now Jan.30-Feb. 1

John 8:32

All st u d en t s gr ad es 6-12 a r e en cou r aged t o jo in u s New Yea r s ev e 2008 a s w e h ave a b la st b r in gin g in t h e New Yea r . We w ill st a r t Wed n esd ay n igh t a t Kyle Ed w ar d s b a r n , t h en t r av el t o Ab ilen e for an a ll n igh t lock in a t P r im e Tim e En t er t a in m en t . Th e cost w ill b e $25.00 p lu s a m ea l a t IHOP. Watch your mailbox for more specific times.

*!Volunteers are needed!*

December 14th was a special day. I don’t know many churches that would present two different musicals on the same day. I really don’t know many churches of our size that would attempt two musicals but we did, and things could not have gone better. I know that God was pleased with our offerings and blessed each mu-sical. I hope you got to come and be a part of each one as they said some-thing very unique about Christmas and its meaning. I hope those who came were blessed by each person who sang and served. They all gave their hearts in an offering to the Lord.

Our Children’s Choir did such a fantastic job. I was so proud of each and every child. They sang their hearts out and were so GOOD ! I have to say Alicia Smith did a fantas-tic job as a co-director. She might say she did a little, but from where I am standing this musical would have not hap-pened if not for her. She did a great job communicating and organizing and making things easier on us all. From what I have been told, she has always done a great job on musicals

here, and now I know first hand.

Our sanctuary choir has been through quite a bit this year. We have had more sickness and physical ailments than any of us could have expected and still they were fantastic on Sunday night. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of our Choir. This was a difficult musical that they more than ‘pulled off.’ They presented it with the power and passion that a gift to our Lord deserved. I am so very proud of each member and their offering to our Lord and Savior Jesus. His name truly is wonderful !

Each musical changed me in some way. “Visions of Christmas” made me ask the question, “If our Christmas memories aren’t about Jesus, are we do-ing something wrong?” I know I will be altering what I normally do on Christmas because of that question. “The Name Jesus” showed me there is more power in the name of Jesus than I know. It was a name chosen by God to resonate throughout the centuries and it does. This year, fill December 25th with memories of Jesus and the power of His name! I pray you have a wonderful Christmas filled with the Joy of the Lord.