Fruit trees were not given to us by God to merely display pretty blossoms in the spring.   Wheat fields are not planted, fertilized and cultivated so that the amber waves of grain can tell us which direction the wind is blowing.  God designed crops to be eaten and enjoyed by the people for whom they were planted.

God has planted you in a family, in a church and in a workplace or school so that the fruit He bears through you is useful to others.    He has poured out His Spirit on you, day by day, week by week to water the seed of His Word implanted in your soul.   As we approach 2012, take a brief look at your current crop of fruit.    Is your spouse benefiting from God's kindness, or faithfulness, or mercy-through you?    Do your children taste the goodness of a parent who banks on the firmness of the promises of God?    Is your workplace or school being seeded down with the truth of the gospel?     Or does the product of your daily life more or less resemble the briars and poison ivy of the rest of the world in which you live?

Hebrews 6:7-8
"For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned."

Good news!   If you fall short, God is providing abundant grace right now to repent; to drink in the rain of His forgiveness and to begin producing a useful crop for the glory of our Master Gardner and the enjoyment of His children.

January and February             

• January 1 Plans  THIS Sunday we'll forego the 9:30AM hour, but will meet for a regular worship service at 10:45AM at Glenkirk.    

• Baptism!  We are planning to have baptisms THIS Sunday.  If you are trusting in Jesus as Savior, but have not followed Him in this initial step of obedience, one of your pastors would love to talk to you.     

• Worship Night  Much like our Thanksgiving celebration (with a simpler food plan) we are going to have dinner together, and then be led in singing by Zach Jones on Sunday, January 15 beginning at 5:30PM.

• Marriage Seminar  Please plan to join us for a beautiful time of learning and celebration of God's gift of marriage on Sunday, February 12.  Chris Peeler will preach on the Purpose of Marriage in the morning and Chris & Linda will lead us in a dinner and seminar that night at the Piedmont Club.  The seminar with dinner is $25/person. 

Summer 2012 

• 10th Anniversary Celebration  On Sunday, May 6 we are celebrating 10 years of God's Faithfulness to us as a church.  We'll have a time of thanking God during the morning service, followed by a picnic in the afternoon. 

• NEXT For the last five years or so our young adults have taken a trip to the NEXT Conference on Memorial Day Weekend.   We are doing the same on May 26-29, 2012.   Lots of details are forth coming.

• G3 Soccer Camp  This great outreach, team building event is back for 2012 during the week of June 18-22.

• Guatemala Mission Trip   We will be partnering with Iglesia Jerusalen and One Way Ministries the week of August 4-11, 2012 in order to take the gospel to the children of Guatemala City, and the Mayan peoples in the surrounding villages.    Some initial details can be found here.  If you are interested (even tentatively) please let Corey Shepherd know.    

• Here is Our God  The Gospel Coalition is hosting a conference for women with an amazing lineup of speakers in Orlando on June 22-24, 2012.   For more information check here.   We are trying to get a sense of how many might go, so if you have any interest please let Corey Shepherd know.

"Every sin is an act of cosmic treason, a futile attempt to dethrone God in His sovereign authority."

-R.C. Sproul