New Student Series

On January 11th we will kick off a series called I AM SECOND. For two weeks we will look at how we can make Christ first in our lives and make ourselves second. We will look at videos from some well known people who have made the decision to be second and have worship from our student band led by Justin Teseniar. We will follow this series up with a 3 week look at prayer called "Can You Hear Me?". Here is a description of this se-ries. {Doesn't it seem like there should be more to prayer than just our typical "Help me, bless me, protect me, give to me" prayers? That prayer has to be more than just us making our requests known to God--because doesn't God already know eve-rything that's going on in our lives? It's like there's some secret, some mystery we have to unlock so we can "get through" to God. If we can just say the right words, maybe we can break the code and get a "yes" to all our requests. But what if prayer was something much bigger than that? What if prayer went beyond us getting what we wanted, and became how we grew closer to God's heart? What if prayer wasn't just about changing our present

situation, what if it was about changing us?}

Note About Newsletter

We regret the problems associated with receiving the last several editions of the newsletter. We have consistently had diffi-culty with the post office on mailing our newsletter on a timely basis. Our Nov edition was mailed 37 days after it was postmarked. We have had multiple inquiries and meetings with post office personnel to resolve this with the post office.

Do You Need to Be Baptized?

Have you given your life to Christ but haven’t been baptized? We encourage you to take this step of obedience to honor Christ. If you would like to be A part of the next baptism in January, or you need to talk further about baptism, please contact Brian Barndt at brian@gsdurham.com . You can also reach him by phone at the church office.

Wednesday Night Live

Exciting New Wednesday Format Begins Jan 11

After months of prayerful planning, we will be making some improvements to our Wednesday worship time. On Wednesday, January 11 we will start an open café time from 6-6:30pm in the dining hall. During this time, you’ll be able to enjoy coffee and refreshments. In addition, we will be hosting our Wednesday worship time with music and teaching in the dining hall as well. The service time will begin at 6:30pm. This new format will create a greater opportunity to connect with each other over a cup of coffee and some refresh-ments. Others who are taking different Bible study classes will be able to join us for the fellowship time, and then go to their respective classes at 6:30pm. In the past, as we’ve conducted studies like our Core classes in the dining hall, it’s created a great atmosphere for con-necting and worshipping. I’m excited about how this will help us become healthier, creating a more consistent time to build relationships in our church. We will have the same music structure that we’ve had on Wednesdays; it will simply be taking place in the dining hall. Our time of praise and worship will be followed by a time of teaching. To kick off our new format, we’re starting a new teaching series called, Go Ahead and

Ask. The series is designed to answer questions you have about the Bible and life. You can ask your questions anony-mously. Drop by the pastor’s resource table, fill out a question slip and drop it in the ap-propriate box. If it’s more convenient to turn in your question by email, simply email your question to me at Clay@gsdurham.com. During the teaching series, we will be working through the questions that have been submitted by members and attenders. It’s important that we’re addressing sub-jects that are relevant to you. As we begin the New Year, decide to make Wednesday Night Live a priority. Come enjoy a good cup of java, time with friends, and a time of worship and teach-ing. Let me encourage you to begin the New Year by bringing your kids and students to church on Wednesday nights. Your kids will enjoy an exciting time of music, games, and learning with Intune Lagoon. Their new series kicks off on Jan. 11. Bring your kids to the elementary class-room under the sanctuary at 6:15pm. Then the second part of the program will take place at the Family Life Center. You can pick your kids up at the FLC at 7:45pm. If you have a teenager, decide to make Wednesday a priority for them. Tell them, “In 2012, I’m going to make sure

I get you to your student worship/bible study on Wednesday nights.” This is where some of their strongest friend-ships will be forged, and they can go deeper into God’s Word. The student ministry is kicking off a new teaching series called I Am Second; it’s a great time for them to learn how to put Christ first in their lives. I’m looking forward to this new exciting format. If your Life Group class is pres-ently meeting in the dining hall, you will continue to meet there. Second Mile will also continue to meet in the dining hall. As you go into 2012, join us as we replenish and refuel each week at our mid week service. I’m trusting God for a great 2012 for you, your family, and your church family.

Memorials

In memory of Violet Gray by Rosine Frederick (Sr. Choir); Rosella Strawbridge by Dan Reynolds (Legacy); Mrs. Hodges(Jamie Wilkins Mom) by Mr. & Mrs. Mike Everleigh (2nd Mile); Elise Cole by Faith Builders Class (Legacy); Dorothy Haizelip by Willie Mae Harris (Legacy); and Essie Smiley (Shirley Mathis’ Mother) by Howell SS class (Legacy).

Honorariums

In honor of Brenda Sorrell by Anna Memrick (Legacy); Anna Memrick by Mr. & Mrs. C. G. Sorrell (Legacy); and Roxie Hester by Kelly Hayes (General).

Our Deepest Sympathy

To the family of Frances Bowles in the loss of her husband, Winton; Amanda Mack in the loss of her husband, Lewis; Kyle Marshall in the loss of his father, John; and to the family of Robert Nichols.

Inclement Weather Inclement weather information regarding church services watch WRAL, WTVD or go to the web-site, www.gsdurham.com.

Volume 15, Number 1

Postmaster: Send address changes to Good News,

Grey Stone Baptist Church, 2601 Hillsborough Road,

Durham, NC 27705-4080

Published monthly by Grey Stone Baptist Church.

Good News (USPS 576-820)

This issue of the Good News was placed with the USPS

December 22, 2011

DATED MATERIAL Please deliver by December 23 , 2011

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When Is the Last Time You Actually Listened to God?

When is the last time you actually lis-tened to God and didn’t actually get what you were hoping for, but you still listened? Yesterday I was shopping for a pair of pants. Normally this kind of ac-tivity is emotionless for a male, but I must admit that shopping for pants is difficult for me, as the great Kevin James once said (King of Queens star), “You might say I have a weight prob-lem.” Shopping for pants simply throws this problem in my face each time I try to button up another pair of pants that don’t fit! Anyway, I really needed a new pair of pants so I spent quite a bit of time pray-ing (silently) to God about helping me find a pair of pants that would fit and make me feel like Brad Pitt (and not the version from Fight Night). I listened in-tently; I really did, and felt God pulling me from store to store. After two-hours of shopping I was near-ing my wits end, and was ready to quit when I prayed again and truly felt God calling me to Macy’s to look one last time. It was like this dramatic sensation that was telling me not to quit, not yet, the pants are right around the next bend. Ever felt that way? I did, and I

was sure that the pants were going to miraculously fall from the sky in Macy’s and bond themselves perfectly to my lower half. Macy’s was a total bust, unless of course God wasn’t actually wanting me to find a pair of pants. I realized some-thing important standing in the isle at Macy’s. I truly felt God was speaking to me and encouraging me, even though there were no pants. It was like God wanted to know if I was truly ready to listen to Him, even when my requests were not being granted. Am I only going to listen when the outcome is what I want? I walked out of Macy’s triumphantly, and not because I found a pair of pants, but because I felt that I had truly listened to God and obeyed, even though it was frustrating, tiring, and humiliating – I still listened and followed what I felt He was wanting me to do. That is a good day if you ask me – and you’re probably not – but I thought I would write it any way.

(*Reprinted with Permission by Gary Smalley)

life. We take steps to see that we have enough to eat and clothes to keep us warm. But do we take our spiritual needs that seriously? Do we apply the same earnestness in planning to maxim-ize our ministry as we do in planning to make a living? What we would like to do here at Grey Stone is to encourage you to set aside time each day of the week in the coming year to plan—and specifically to plan your life of prayer and devotion and min-istry. Following a plan will not only en-hance your desire for God's Word, it will equip you with the discipline and habit of reading His Story! For tools and Bible Reading Plans, go online to www.edugreystone.com. You are also invited to join us in a Life Group, many which are following a spe-cific devotion plan with others for en-couragement and accountability. The important thing is doing it so that you may know God more and be equipped to do His will. The Lord has an exciting adventure waiting for you and the directions are in your hand.

Randall Floyd Education Pastor

when we discuss our walk with the Lord. There are three things in that phrase that are critical to spiritual growth. The first is the word 'daily'. Just like our bodies need daily nourishment, so does our spirit. Secondly, 'quiet' is also the key because many times we must quiet ourselves and our surroundings in order to hear from the Lord. Finally, 'time' is also important. How much time you ask? That's something we each have to ask ourselves. Some days you may spend 15 minutes in quiet reflection while other times you will be able to en-joy an evening studying God's Word. Without some rudimentary planning you probably won't have anything to eat when you get up in the morning. And without some detailed planning no one can build a house, let alone a skyscrap-er or city. If producing shelter and food and clothing and transportation is valua-ble, then planning is valuable. Nothing but the simplest impulses gets accom-plished without some forethought which we call a plan. All of us know this and practice it in rela-tion to the basic physical necessities of

Micah 6:8 says "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to

love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (NKJV)

If anyone asked you what your daily walk with the Lord looked like, what would you say? Would you say that it's a 10 minute Bible read before running out the door? Maybe, you wake up early and spend a good half hour in reading and prayer or maybe you even spend an hour meditating on God's Word. What-ever your daily walk looks like, one thing is for certain--if you want to grow spiritu-ally you must spend time with the Lord. Often, we mention our 'daily quiet time'

Senior Adult Ministry, 2011

2011 was an exciting year in the Senior Adult Ministry! Well, I can say that for certain since June 1st, my starting date at Grey Stone. I believed and hoped for great things, and God has exceeded my expectations. Here is a short summary of the Senior Adult Ministry for 2011.

Our monthly luncheon, which occurs on the last Monday of each month, has grown increasingly with more tables and more happy stomachs. Here’s what I mean, more people eating more food, specifically the 30 additional pieces of fried chicken I purchased since my first luncheon plus, we had two fantastic mu-sical guests entertain us, and the sen-iors came close to dancing when the saxophone player was grooving some old hits. The recent Christmas luncheon

had 110 seniors in attendance, all decked out in their Christmas best!

A group of 50 seniors traveled to Pigeon Forge, TN, for a 4 day conference of worship and Bible teaching under re-nowned preacher, Dr. David Jeremiah. This was a very special trip for me, since it was the first of its kind I have led. In addition, my wonderful wife, Car-oline, traveled with us and was warmly embraced by the group. Several sen-iors even indicated they like me even more now that they know Caroline! Special thanks to church pillar, Pastor Robert, for joining us and being an en-couragement and support.

The bi-monthly Senior Health Fair was consistently well-attended and our facili-tator, Dr. Rollin Burhans, never failed to provide top medical experts willing to

share their knowledge. The Senior Choir was a blessing to the congrega-tion with their musicals. I had the honor of narrating along with their golden voic-es in our Christmas presentation, O Come and Adore Him. It means so much to me personally, to watch them come in smiling at 4pm each Wednesday ready to rehearse and praise the Lord.

Much more could be written about the laughter enjoyed together, love extend-ed to each other and all the ways the Spirit of God moved in the life of the Grey Stone Seniors. But, I think I’ll just wait to elaborate further, because I be-lieve greater days lie ahead for 2012!

Brian Barndt Minister of Pastoral Care