Frank and to the Point

by Dr. Frank Lewis, Pastor

January and February 2007 are now in the history books. I’ve removed the calendar pages from my day-timer and filed them on the shelf along with my journal entries for this year. I don’t know about you, but for me it seems the days go by way too fast. Officially, one-sixth of our year is now over.

So how are you coming along with your spiritual and fitness goals for the year? My physical workouts allow me to live above the line when it comes to stress management and a host of other issues. I find that I’m faster, leaner, and more energetic because of them. My spiritual workouts consist of a number of disciplines that enable me to practice the presence of God in my life. Without them, I’m pretty sure the speed of life would be even more of a blur.

Each Sunday morning this spring we are going to look into the scriptures to examine Jesus “In His Own Words” (see the series information elsewhere in the Evangel). Why not set a goal for yourself to spend five minutes a week praying for God to speak to you in worship? Then, be present, take notes, re-read the notes and each Sunday’s scripture texts during the week, and see if you can tell a difference in your spiritual health by the beginning of summer.

Blessings!

The Sandwich Generation

by Rhonda Schremmer, member, Family Enrichment Committee

Guilt.

That’s my description of life in the sandwich generation. Before my father died, he spent four months in a nursing home. We took turns feeding him at mealtimes. Just as I was feeding my one-year-old baby his food, I was also feeding my 80-year-old father.

I felt guilty as a wife. Jim would come from work and I would immediately leave for the nursing home.

I felt guilty as a mother. I was gone so much and sometimes even left behind a crying child.

I felt guilty as a daughter. I was always in a rush to visit Daddy. It was hard leaving Daddy at night but I had to hurry home to take one of the children to scouts or basketball practice.

I felt guilty as a sister. My schedule was not as flexible since I had small children at home.

The stresses of the sandwich generation can be overwhelming. There were times I cried as I rushed back and forth between my roles as wife, mother, sister, and daughter. Looking back, I realize two things: 1) I have no regrets, knowing I did the best I could; 2) I trust I made a lasting impression for my children in the way I honored my father.

Living in the Sandwich Generation

No, it’s not about food! It’s a program about and for individuals who are or expect to be “sandwiched” between responsibility for aging parents while actively parenting their own children. It will include events, issues, changes, and concerns related to aging and the caregiver.

The program will be offered Saturday, March 10, from 8:30 A.M. until 2:15 P.M. A registration fee of $10 per person includes lunch.

Have questions or want to register? Contact Pam Nail at 664-6023, or visit www.firstbaptistnashville.org.

Week of Prayer Study & Luncheon

The Week of Prayer for North American Missions is March 4 – 11. The theme is “Change Your World.” The Week of Prayer Study and Luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 6, beginning at 10:30 A.M. Our guest speaker will be Margaret Patterson, director, Copper Basin Crisis Center, in Ducktown, TN.

Women's Softball

The FBC women's softball team assembled another successful season in the spring of 2006. While the team's short-handed appearance in the end-of-season tournament ended more quickly than all might have hoped, the team was consistent during the regular season, posting a mere two losses and sustaining only a few minor injuries. Most important, everyone had fun and represented the church with true Christian spirit and sportsmanship. Veterans enjoyed the camaraderie of old friends and new names on the roster added depth and diversity to an already exceptional group. Special thanks to the women for their participation and collective witness this season.

Any women interested in signing up for the 2007 season should contact Hope Chaney at 351-0510 or hope.chaney@comcast.net.

Crow's Corner

by Tom Crow, executive pastor

SUNDAY SCHOOL—We are off to a great start for 2007 —Building Bridges Task Force 1 Leader Brad Dunn (a.k.a., Sunday School Director) is doing a great job of leading team members Nancy Brown (Care-Connect Ministry) and Bill Emeott (Continuing Education Ministry) and enlisting others. Our education staff joins this team in leading/growing a caring community of faith—Sunday School!

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL leaders are focusing on Invite, Discover, Connect concepts—these concepts will guide our ministry for four years of Building Bridges. We want to invite our people to engaging Bible study that is LIFE CHANGING, we want to discover God’s riches in Bible Study and help others learn about God’s grace, and we want to connect our people with God and each other.

ADMINISTRATION—We are beginning 2007 in a great way financially! Through the middle of February, giving is exceeding budget requirements and 122% of gifts this time last year—the Lord is providing for unseen opportunities! Your budget gifts make a great difference in lives of people at FBC and literally around the world! Our Building Bridges pledge total is $642,802 and to date we have contributed $85,298—it’s time for us to begin fulfilling our pledges—many exciting opportunities are being prayed over and examined to build bridges.

SINGLE ADULTS—Pastor Frank and I had the privilege of meeting with 60 of the finest single adults anywhere recently to discuss how we invite, discover and connect in the single adult ministry. They had many terrific suggestions! We are encouraging them to engage in various ministry activities/mission activities. Our staff will fill the gap until permanent leadership is secured. The Personnel Committee continues to help us evaluate and dream. In the meantime, pray for our single adults!

MISSIONS—Do you have your passport? Our Missions Committee is planning many exciting and challenging mission opportunities for 2007 and 2008. We are developing a mission to RUSSIA in July/August 2007 (I expect to go and coordinate our team.) We will participate in Bible literature distribution, children’s Bible Study opportunities, evangelism and discipleship possibilities, and will reach the area of North Russia, Kola Peninsula, the city of Murmansk. Interested? Con-tact my office for more information.

Seconds to Recall, a Lifetime to Remember

by Andrea Hultman, Bible Drill teacher

Each Sunday night this semester, 25 to 30 enthusiastic fourth through sixth graders work hard to learn all 66 books of the Bible, 10 key passages (by title and reference), and 25 verses. Each child “races against the clock” to find a book or key passage or to remember a verse. Children who score high enough at the churchwide drill will go on to the Associational Drill. Those who score high enough there will go on to the State Drill. Psalm 119:11 tells us the benefit of memorizing Bible knowledge: when we hide God’s Word in our hearts (memorize it), it helps us not sin against Him—we know how to please Him. Because of Bible Drill, what takes only seconds to recall will be remembered for a lifetime!

Please pray for Letty Gossett, Bill Emeott, Judy Gray, and me as we guide the children each week. Also pray that God’s Word will truly take hold in their hearts.

Small Group Discipleship Training for Teens Is Back!

Starting Wednesday, March 7, at 5:45 P.M., we will have our kickoff to DT. During this 45-minute time slot our teenagers will dig deep into God’s Word and grow in their faith so that they can better share God’s love. Worship will follow the small groups.

5:45 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.
Discipleship Training, Room 300

6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
The Edge, Room 300

Parents Night Out

For babies – grade 6
Friday, March 9
6:00 – 10:00 P.M.
$7 per child (payable at time of registration)

Your child must be registered in order to participate. Call 664-6023 to register. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, March 7.

March Staff Birthdays

6—Rickey Sullivan, custodian
21—Sam Sanders, minister of recreation & senior adults
26—Nathan Green, custodian
28—Brandon Owen, minister to college students

Missouri Disaster Relief Team

by Bill Cannady, FBC member

In January, our Disaster Relief Team visited Nixa, MO, to work with those who had been handicapped by the ice storms devastating that area of our country. They had one severe ice storm followed by a large snowfall and then an-other ice storm. The team of ten members included the following from FBC: Eileen Edwards, Lester Simpson, Gerri Thompson and myself. We completed work on 23 homes in the five days we were there.

The work was not as demanding as that of hurricane clean-up but was most challenging due to the extreme weather conditions. The temperature never climbed above 27 degrees and two days the wind chill factor was below zero. It even snowed while we were there. We are grateful to the church for allowing us the use of a church van and for your prayerful support. We are grateful to God for a safe journey and a safe week of ministry to those less fortunate than we. The team worked long, hard, and harmoniously together.

Missouri Disaster Relief Trip Photos

Something New for Everyone!

by Jackie Anderson, media library director

It Happens Every Spring is the first in a series of novels by an unlikely pair of authors—Gary Chapman, a Christian psychologist and author of many titles related to marriage and other interpersonal relationships, and Catherine Palmer, a seasoned writer of Christian fiction. The setting for the story is a beauty shop in a small town on the Lake of the Ozarks. Four Seasons is the series name and promises to entertain and maybe enlighten readers.

If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff continues the “If you give...” series for young preschoolers. The pig (main character) gets into a variety of ridiculous situations which will amuse young children. Big, colorful illustrations add to the fun of the book.

Designed for Worship, an Architectural Perspective of Sacred Places in Middle Tennessee published by Nashville Public Television. The book is described as “a stunning visual tour of Nashville’s historic houses of worship.” A wide variety of worship sites is included along with extensive photographs of past and current locations. First Baptist Nashville is featured prominently with photographs from both historical and contemporary times.

Spring Forward!

Daylight Saving Time begins March 11 at 2 A.M. Be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed so that you will be on time for Sunday School and Worship!

In His Own Words

The best way to get to know Jesus is to become acquainted with him through his own words. Please join your friends at First Baptist Nashville as we explore his promises and investigate the claims Jesus made about himself, in his own words, recorded in scripture. Each Sunday we will learn more from the wisdom, insight, assurance, and hope that Jesus offers people today. His words are filled with grace, mercy, challenge, and of course, love. Come and let Jesus introduce himself to you, in his own words.

March 4	GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD	John 3:16-17
March 11	SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM	Matthew 6:25, 27, 33-34
March 18	I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD	John 10:11, 14, 45
March 25	FOLLOW ME	Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 14:26
April 1	I AM THE LIGHT	John 8:12; 12:46; Matthew 5:14,16
April 8	I AM THE RESURRECTION	John 11:25-26
April 15	COME TO ME	Matthew 11:28-30
April 22	I AM THE WAY	John 14:1-4, 6; 8:31-32
April 29	GO YE	Matthew 28:18-20
May 6	IN HIS OWN WORDS Presented by the First Baptist Nashville Sanctuary Choir and Nashville String Machine; Words of Christ narrated by Frank R. Lewis