Praying the Psalms*

O God, Psalm 2 contains an incredible line: "He who sits in the heavens laughs." Somehow, I always suspected that. I am not surprised that You watch our antics and then can't help but offer an occasional godly guffaw!

I take myself far too seriously, and more so than anyone else. Perhaps I'm not alone in that confession; but even if I am, it still is true.

Forgive me, O God, for taking just about everything more seriously than You. Whether liturgy or learning, whether goals or objectives, whether "image control" or "need to prove"---all are laughable idols when they take the place of God.

Thank You for the honesty of a sacred snicker...exactly when it's called for.

Then, there's Psalm 4. I admire the Psalmist's brave approach.  "Answer me when I call, O God...!" Whoa! I was taught not to talk that way to authority. What does it mean to demand something of God? Is it appropriate to command God?  

"Answer me when I call...," sounds un-prayerful at best and presumptuous, at worst. And yet, there it is. Right there in the how-to-pray book in the Bible!

Come to think of it, I go to the edge of saying the same each week on the way to the Lord's Prayer as we "pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples as we pray boldly, Our Father...." 

So, God who laughs, God who invites honest confrontation, God who gives us rest at night...turn our fretful insomnia into trust and our weariness into rest. As St. Augustine said it, "Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in thee." Amen

*The congregation is invited to read one Psalm-a-Day during 2011.  Praying the Psalms is a weekly prayer written by the pastor based on a Psalm from the past week.  

February 2 and 9, from 7:00-8:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall

As we begin a new year, it is a good time to reflect and plan for some important decisions we often neglect. To this end, the Adult Education Committee invites you to Faithful Healthcare Choices Now, a guided discussion on personal healthcare decisions in the final season of life. This program is for people of ALL AGES. We never know when our personal "final season" may come; a catastrophic accident or diagnosis could change any of our lives tomorrow. It is both responsible and faithful to be prepared.

This program will include two sessions, February 2 and 9, from 7:00-8:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Sheridan Ruiz and Liz Harris-Lamkin will lead our discussion. Sheridan, a Family Nurse Practitioner, is in the Palliative Care Program at Piedmont Hospital and has 18 years of nursing experience with her main focus on palliative and end of life care for over 10 years. Liz Harris-Lamkin is Chaplain at Piedmont Hospital and Lieutenant Colonel of the Joint Forces Headquarters and State Chaplain and brings with her perspective from 20 years of experience as a hospital and military chaplain.

Session One will identify how our spiritual values and religious beliefs inform our health and healthcare choices, particularly in the final season of life--whether years, months, or days. Every person is encouraged to do advanced care planning in the event they are unable to speak for themselves. That includes developing an Advanced Directive and appointing a trusted agent to be your Healthcare Power of Attorney. There is no greater gift to your family and all those who love you than to make clear your wishes, so that they can be at peace about actions they may be called upon to take on your behalf.

In Session Two, we will walk through the Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care form, addressing questions related to each section. Each person is encouraged to fill out his/her own advanced directive or review a current one for any needed updates. Individuals are encouraged to talk with their physicians about their choices and provide documentation for their patient charts. Most importantly, you will be strongly encouraged to have in-depth conversations with those closest to you who may not know how you feel about various care options.

Exploring questions of personal meaning, the nature of Christian hope, ethics, and economics can help us choose wisely for our care when we consider the benefits, burdens and limitations of medical interventions and the current healthcare delivery system. Join us to walk through this process together; it will be a great gift to your family.

January 11, 2011 @ 11 AM in the Fellowship Hall

Tony Callaway is the Director of Development for the Alliance for Christian Media, which produces the weekly Day1 radio program and sponsors the day1.org website. The radio program is broadcast on more than 200 radio stations each week and is also available on the American Forces Radio Network. Tony's website receives more than 60,000 visits per month. Tony served as the Youth Minister of Northside Drive from 1970-1975 and is the son-in-law of Jack and Bobbie Baldwin.

NDBC Book Club

A book review of The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and Alison Anderson will be Wednesday, January 12, at 1 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Nancy Hall-Shelton will be the facilitator and Billie Davis the hostess. Bring your lunch; dessert and beverages will be furnished.

FFA/FCCLA of Georgia Retreat Center

January 14-17, 2011

$85 per person

Recreation, Learning, and Fellowship

Contact Zach Bay at zach@northsidedrive.org

January 23, 2011 @ 3 PM in the Chapel*

Northside Drive Baptist celebrates the life of the human spirit, free-dom of thought, and the power of imagination through the arts. With these concerts we welcome the wider community to experience the beauty and joy of chamber music. Our chapel offers a graceful and spiritual space where performers and listeners may join in celebration of the genius and inspiration of great composers.

Mark your calendars now for NDBC's Souper Bowl Sunday on January 30 (one week early) in the Fellowship Hall after church. Everyone is welcome to come down and join us for a wonderful selection of soup/chili and make a donation to the Hunger Fund for 2011. These monies are used to help support the Atlanta Community Food Bank as well as send aid to hungry people around the world. Last year we raised over $1,500 at the fun event!

How do we do it? Well, your chef skills are needed! To volunteer to cook a pot of chili/soup or help clean/set up, contact Mona Stines at flyingMJS@bellsouth.net or 770-941-6478. If you'd rather bring 3 dozen brownies or cookies, contact Susan Dew at 404-252-5715. Call today and you'll be reminded closer to time! What a great gift to give this holiday season!

It's a fun time together and the monies raised go to help those really in need. Can we count on you to help?

Thank you from the Missions Committee...

Thank you for your generous support for the 2010 Christmas giving projects. Bags bulging with new clothing and toiletries for men and women in transitional housing; clothing, toys and even a bike for foster children served through Morningstar Children and Family Services; and toys for the Buckhead Christian Ministry Joyous Toys demonstrate your love and concern for those less fortunate. To all who shopped, wrapped, delivered gifts and in many other ways helped share Christ's love this Christmas season, thank you from the Missions Committee.

Church Week