The God of Time

By Os Hillman

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him (Eccl 8:6).

How we use our time is a good indicator of the god we choose to serve. There is a god whose name is "the urgent" that can rule our lives if we are not diligent. The wrong use of time can lead to misery. The right use of time can result in fulfillment.

"You need to take time to turn to God. Do not pray only when you have set aside time to do. The busier you are, the more you must practice turning to God. If you wait until the time is convenient, there is little doubt that you will end up spending little time with God. Try to come before God both in the morning and the evening. Pray during and between all your other jobs as much as you can. You cannot retire too much from the mindless chatter of the world. Learn to steal this time in little snatches, and you will find these moments the most precious part of your day" said Francois de Fenelon, a sixteenth century Christian leader.1

The amount of time we spend with anyone or any activity is a good indicator of the value we place on that person or activity. Time equates to money for some. For others it can be a cruel dictator. It is the physical evidence of what is at the center of our lives.

People can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the lack of available time, but the will to set a priority for the time they have. Time can be the evidence that convicts our soul that our devotion has waned.

What does the evidence of time tell you about yourself? Today, give God the time needed to develop a relationship that is meaningful for both of you.

Staying in Touch

There is an easy and simple way to stay in touch with what's happening in the Sunday School Class. How? Simply sign-up on Plaxo and join our Sunday School Class group. Sign-up is fast and free. PLUS - there are a lot of neat features that will allow you to keep your contact information with other folks current and continuously up-to-date. Starting in 2008, I plan to communicate important announcements and reminders through this medium. Why not do it now while it's fresh on your mind?

Caroling, Caroling Through the Snow!

Well, not really...It didn't snow, but 19 of us went caroling in Linda Sowers neighborhood this past Saturday evening. What a great time! Linda put an unbelievable amount of time and effort in preparing for the carolers and in getting the special Christmas stockings ready to give to all of her neighbors (including a "Jesus" video for each home). Linda - we love your heart and the way you allowed Jesus to use you this Christmas Season to share the Good News! (What do you think God might do with that kind of love and heart for one's neighbors?)

I wonder...how are you reaching out to your neighbors to tell them about Jesus and show a little love in His name this Christmas Season?

Thanks from the Curlees

Please let your SS class know how appreciative we are with the love offering that was taken up. We are really humbled that you guys would do this for us. We have been trying to save for our plane tickets back to the States this summer – so this money will probably go into that fund. Again, thank you and the class for your prayers and your giving. It means more than anyone can imagine.

Merry Christmas from the Minners

Dear "Gay" Sunday School friends,

Craig and I send our heartfelt thanks for the offering you gave to us. This week has been very busy for us. Know that your gift is a blessing to us.

We have been very busy with Christmas celebrations here. Last week we were invited to a Thai neighborhood party that was put on by a local Thai church. They put these on as an effort to reach out to their community. They wanted us to do a play or something. As we have learned, the Thai (like most everyone) are long on ideas but short on planning ahead. We had been trying to plan something for a couple of months but never could get it to work out. Of course, one of the ladies called us and said, okay, we have it worked out, can you come tomorrow. And by the way, we want you to do a play or something and a craft. Also, like most Asian gatherings it started out for 15 - 20 people and grew to about 60 people. So, Penelope (remember me from the homeless program last year?) told the Christmas story with our house church as the nativity characters. It wasn't quite the same—it’s harder to stay in character when you have to stop after every line for the interpreter to translate.

Today, we had our office Christmas party. It was just like the Sunday School class party, almost. We ate outside. It was 90 degrees but very comfortable, sunny weather--we wore shorts, of course. We had tons of food—both Western and Thai. The usual Western menu--turkey, ham, rolls and lots of desserts. But, we also had a ton of Thai food—Kaoy Soi (pronounced cow soy), Basil Chicken, Curry Chicken, and Mango Sticky Rice.

Okay, so it wasn't exactly like your party but we did do the dirty Santa game. The hot items that were stolen a lot were a little different from yours--Velveeta cheese, dark chocolate m & m’s, and Celadon pottery. We can only get Velveeta cheese through packages from home here, so that gift did get stolen until it was locked. The other items that you would also find stolen around your circle were here too--Starbucks gift cards, Mexican restaurant gift certificates, and other coffee items.

Attached you will find some pictures. One is our family after the party in front of some lovely palm trees around our office. Our office party had about eighty people attending so we broke the dirty Santa into two smaller groups. One of the pictures is of Craig in the circle where he participated. The two Thai women work in our office—they are Rose and Aoy.

Thank you again for your wonderful gift. It will come in handy, especially for groceries for our three hungry boys.

We miss you—please email or call 698-4209.

Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be filled with worshipful awe at the baby Jesus while you keep in mind that He came not just to be born in the manger, but to die on the cross for you and for me. Be sure to keep Christ in Christmas, but most especially make room for Him in your heart and home this wonderful season.

I have a very special Christmas message planned for this Sunday. Hope you can be there!

How to Become a Stress-free Shopper

By Dave Ramsey

How many times have you gone into a store with the intention of only buying ONE particular item and you walked out with 5 bags full of everything else under the sun? Did you have a written list when you went in the store? Probably not. "But I had a list in my head," you say. Maybe so, but the final total was a lot larger than you expected, right?

If you're already dreading that exact scenario occurring again in the coming weeks, there's no need to stress. There's still time to prevent it! The following 3 steps will guide you toward being a smarter shopper this season (and throughout the year) and send you home with some money still in your wallet.

Get together a game plan.

It's pretty stupid to head out to the mall or any other store without a game plan. I'm talking a "game plan" as in a budget. Now, I'm not saying that you should carry around a 5-page printed budget as you shop. Just be smart BEFORE you go shopping, and doing so will help you be a smarter shopper.

Write down the specific amount of money you have available to spend on gifts this season. There is no magical dollar amount; it's going to be different for each individual and family. You have to think what's realistic for YOU. Know your limit and stick to it!

Make a list. Check it twice.

By having a list in your head (especially a Christmas gift list), you're just setting yourself up to spend more. Take the time to write down exactly who you want to buy for and exactly what you want to buy. Look over your list multiple times. Give it some serious consideration. By doing so, you will be armed and dangerous with your shopping list and allotted amount of money for each person, and all the extra shiny toys in the stores won't distract you as much.

Flash the cash.

Before you hit the stores, stop by the ATM. Withdraw the specific amount of cash you allotted yourself to spend on Christmas gifts. Now that you have cash in hand, you'll know when it runs out. You'll physically see your limit. When the cash is gone, STOP spending! Do not pull out the plastic!

When you pay with cash, don't be afraid to ask for a deal. Most people don't get deals when they're shopping because they either don't pay with cash or are too afraid to ask! What's the worst thing that could happen? They might say no. Big deal. At least you tried! Sometimes I like to go into stores and just flash a handful of cold, hard cash. The store employees sure do pay attention to me!

Whoever said you had to buy tons and tons of presents for people anyway?! Enjoying gifts and shopping is all fine and dandy, as long as you stay within your own personal financial boundaries. Make a point to not put gifts and pleasing others above more important things in your life - spending time with loved ones, being in control of your money, and getting out of debt.

Dave Ramsey has a nationally syndicated radio show and is the author of several financial planning books. For more information go to www.daveramsey.com.

Elf Yourself!

For your own special Christmas greeting from Santa's Elves, click here!

Christmas Party Photo Album

We had a great time at the Sunday School Class Christmas party this past Saturday night. Thanks again to the Huntleys for opening up their home to us. Click here to enjoy the photo album from the party. (If you don't have a Snapfish account, you will be prompted to create one. It takes about 30 seconds - and is free.)

Can You Hear Me Now?

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. - 1 Samuel 3:7

Samuel was born to Hannah, a woman who had a deep commitment to God. She was barren, but she cried out to God for a son. The Lord gave her Samuel, whom she completely gave to the Lord for His service. After weaning him, she took him to the house of the Lord to be reared by the priests. Eli was the priest of Israel, but he was not a godly leader. He had allowed much corruption, including the sins of his sons, in God's house. God was not pleased with Eli and later judged him and his household.

Samuel grew up in the temple serving God. He also grew up seeing the hypocrisy of Eli's household, yet this did not change the young man. God was with him. We learn that even though young Samuel had a belief in God, he had not yet experienced a personal relationship with Him. God called to Samuel three times, but Samuel thought it was Eli, the priest, calling him. Finally, Eli told him to say, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Sam. 3:9b). This is what Samuel did, and God began telling Samuel important things to come.

Many of us grow up in religious environments. We go to church every week. We have a head knowledge of God, but we do not recognize God's voice in our lives. There comes a time when we must recognize God's voice for ourselves. God does not want us to have a religion; He wants us to have a two-way relationship with Him. Samuel was never the same after this encounter. He would know God's voice and would respond to Him in obedience.

Do you know God's voice? Can you recognize it when He speaks? In order to hear God's voice, you must be clean before Him and listen. Listen to God's voice today and follow His plans for you.

Merry Christmas from the Curlees!

(Keith, Page, Milly, Wade, Hunter and Levi)

We wanted to send you a special Christmas greeting from Taiwan! Thank you for your prayers and support. We pray each of you will have a blessed holiday as you remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we strive to share Christ with the Taiwanese people and minister to third culture kids at Morrison Academy. We would love to receive a Christmas card from you. Here is our address:

The Curlees

Si Ping Road
Lane 238, Number 126
Taichung 406, Taiwan
ROC

Callling All Men!

Men - mark you calendars for the 2008 Men's Conference at First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA. Details are below:

Name: Triple Play - The Trilogy of Men's Struggles - Money, Sex & Pride
Date(s): February 01 - February 02, 2008
Time: 4:00 PM & 7:00 AM
Location: First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA

A group of us will be leaving from Green Street on Friday to go to Woodstock, GA. Last year's event was great. You can get more information or sign up during Sunday School or by emailing Robert Steele.

Opportunities in December

A lot of things are happening in December. Please make a note of these dates:
Dec. 15: Christmas party, 6:30 p.m. at the Huntleys (423 Burning Tree Circle, High Point). For more information or to sign up, email Julia.
Now through Dec. 16: Special offering taken up each Sunday during class time.
Dec. 22: Christmas caroling at Ashley Park in Trinity. If you can carol, or fix cookies to put in the Christmas stockings which we will be giving out, please email Julia or call Lynda Sowers at 472-1199.
All of December: Remember our friends who are "on the field." You can call and say "Merry Christmas" to the Minners (Craig and Renee) by dialing 336-698-4209. [Remember: they are 12 hours ahead of us.] To call the Curlees (Keith and Paige) dial 336-698-3603 [They are also 12 hours ahead of us].

Remembering Christmas

What do you remember about Christmas when you were a child? Share one of your memories so that we all can reminisce with you.

For me, one of my favorite memories was going over to my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve day. My grandmother, aunt, and uncle lived side-by-side and we always went over to their houses on the 24th. We'd go early in the day and stay late. Ahhh...the food and the fun with friends and family. And as a young child, the anticipation of Santa Claus was nearly unbearable. What sweet, sweet memories!