The Family Church
Family Connections Newsletter May 2011Issue 1 |
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| Marriage Retreat 2011 | |
Marriage Retreat 2011
May 27th - 30th
Memorial Day Weekend
at the Renaissance Hotel
in
World Golf Village
Cost per couple $400
which includes:
Breakfast and Conference.
Speakers are:
Jeff and Debby McElroy
For More Information,
contact:
Terris@thefamilychurch.net
SIGN UP NOW!
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| VBS 2011 Coming Up Soon |
VBS 2011 Gold Rush Discovering the
Rock of Ages
Hooray!! It's
time to register for
Vacation Bible School.
June 13th - 17th
9 am - 12:15 pm
4 years old - completed 5th
Performance will be the
weekend of June 18th/19th.
Registration Fee: $15.00
(per child) which includes:
Backpack, Water bottle,
Study Guide, CD, Crafts
and Snacks.
For VBS
Registration Details
go to our website at
http://www.thefamilychurch.net
/ministries/children.php
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Interfaith Hospitality Network |
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Help will be needed
on the following dates
for providing meals
and fellowship for our homeless families.
June 5-12
October 2-9
November 27
Dec 4
Contact Michele Thomas for more details at michele.th@gmail.com
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| A Word From Max | 
The story has been told of a man who went to see his doctor, a lifelong friend. The man's health had been failing and he seemed to be feeling worse and worse as time went by. He told his doctor, "Doc, I feel drained and exhausted. I don't seem to have any energy. I have a chronic headache, and I feel worn out all the time. What the best thing I can do?" The doctor, who not only knew the man, but knew his habits, replied after a moment, "The best thing you can do? Go home and eat a healthy dinner. Spend some quality time with your wife and children. Get a little exercise. Stay away from the club and the alcohol. Get to bed early and get a decent night's sleep. I guarantee you will feel better!" To which the man replied, "OK, what's the next best thing I can do?" Isn't that so much like life for many of us? We often know what the best things for us are, but we often settle for the next best thing. However, many times, only the best will do! And that truth applies particularly in our spiritual lives. Here at The Family Church, we have six basic "best practices" that we lift up for our members and constituents. |
| Whispers In The Dark |
Scripture: Acts 20:22-24 - "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardship are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Observation: Paul is "compelled" by the Spirit - he moves forward from danger to danger. When others ride for comfort, he walks for the sake of the Gospel (vs.13). When others receive offerings for their expenses, Paul works by his own hand for the sake of the Gospel (vs.35). When others are discouraging, Paul gives encouragement along the way, for the sake of the Gospel (vs.2). What vision is compelling him? A vision of hardship and prison! Paul knows his call is from Christ. He knows exactly what his task is - to testify to the gospel of God's grace. The role of the Holy Spirit in Paul's live is not to show him the easy way, or to lead him to comfort, but to compel and empower him, and to give him an accurate sense of the battles he faces.
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| Worship and Arts Ministry Larry Carpenter |  I'd like to introduce Chris Wagner who is one of our video team members...check it out Our family consists of myself, my beautiful wife Carla and our "rapidly growing out of his clothes and shoes, eat you out of house and home" 12 year old son C.J. (plus our Sheltie, Rusty, and cat O'Malley). Carla and I have known each other for about 28 years and have been married for 18 years. Carla is a stay at home Mom, retired after 24 years in the Dental field, and homeschools our son C.J., so I guess she is not really retired at all, it's a relative term. I have been in Law Enforcement for 30 years as a sworn police officer; also served in the U.S. Army, 3rd Infantry Division, living in West Germany. I currently am the Law Enforcement and Corrections training Coordinator at the Institute of Public Safety at Santa Fe College, for the last 13 years. We moved up to Gainesville from the Fort Lauderdale area. I also have a consulting business in Computer Forensics and EDiscovery. I travel and teach law enforcement worldwide in Computer Crime Investigation. I have gone as far away as Singapore to teach. Our family likes to camp and visit the State parks throughout Florida, especially (for Carla and C.J.) if the campground or park is near Orlando and Disney!! 
Carla was raised with a Christian background and was baptized as a child, I was baptized in 1998, later in my life. I was raised in a scientific, atheistic home. We both took more of an interest in Christian beliefs mostly thanks to Carla's Uncle David who helped answer the scores of questions we had and bought us our first study Bibles (which we still use!). We have attended The Family Church for 9 years now. We have loved the Family Groups we have been a part of and with a special needs child we have found the Family Church very supportive and loving. I serve on the Production team as a camera operator, and also in the children's church as a helper when needed, Carla also helps in the Children's Church and volunteers in different Children's Church and Church events. Thanks and GOD Bless.. Chris
Psalm 106:3 - "Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right."
It's great to have Chris on board, and there is still room for you...come join us as we grow, Larry |
| Missions Pastor Jeff West | |
Compassion International
The learning curve for me in several areas continues, here at The Family Church, as do opportunities to use my experiences and perspectives as a former missionary to enhance our global impact for Jesus. One of those learning areas was the Compassion International Weekend. This was a huge eye-opener for me personally on several levels.
Pastor Max truly reeled me in with his captivating message about sponsorship of children with a twist. While he was preaching, I was kept asking myself, "Who are these self-sponsors and what are the names of those children who were rescued and made an impact on the world as a result of being sponsored?" (watch/listen to the message online if you missed it because I don't want to spoil it for you).
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| Focus on Pastoral Care Patrick Callahan |  Ministry Feature: Divorce Care
The Bible tells us that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose Romans 8:28.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NKJV)
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 (NKJV)
Director's Report Those of us who have suffered through a divorce undoubtedly at some point must have wondered how all the pain and suffering could possibly have been working together for our good, I know I did. Looking back, I realize that each day that passed represented a triumph of God's grace and mercy as I grew toward healing and closer to God. I have no idea how people today survive the pain of divorce without the hope of God, the comfort offered by the fellowship of Christian friends, or the healing efforts of helping hands reaching out in times of need. Too many people suffer through divorces alone. It does not need to be that way. CLICK HERE: to read on NOTE: Look for their Fall Startup in the August Family Connections. |
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Logic: Where Did it Come From? By Stephen F. Larner, PhD | |
When the Lord says "Come now, let us reason together," (Isaiah 1:18), He shows His desire to communicate with us in a rational and logical manner. But how can we do that?
Laws bind everything in the universe, every plant and creature, every rock, every cell and light wave; laws demand obedience. These natural laws are specific and they are hierarchical. If the universe is merely the accidental by-product of a big bang, evolutionists would be hard pressed to explain where these orderly principles originated. Creationists recognize that such laws are consistent with a Creator Who is logical and Who imposed order on His creation (Genesis 1:1).
These natural laws-"ordinances of heaven and earth" (Jeremiah 33:25) are how God normally works in His creation. Integrated into those laws is God's logic. This explains why the universe does not operate in a chaotic or arbitrary manner. The laws of logic are transcendent truths. It is impossible to conceptualize them to be any different from what they are because without them reasoning would be impossible. The foundational laws of nature exist because they are the logical, orderly way the Lord sustains His created universe and are completely consistent with biblical creation. The atheist is unable to account for either a logical, orderly universe or the laws of logic, but must accept they exist in order to do any rational thinking.
CLICK HERE: to read entire article |
| Orphan Care Ministry | |
Florida's Forgotten Children
Perhaps there is no one in our society that is more forgotten than children in foster care or the elderly in nursing homes. This has been true for many years as we read all through scripture of the vulnerability of "orphans and widows" and the churches call to "care for them in their distress" (James 1:27). It is a common theme throughout scripture that God values children (Jesus declares- "let the little children come to me and do not hinder them") and that he identifies himself with the oppressed. God is near to the poor and needy and if we want to be near Him, then this is where we should be as well!
The month of May is Foster Care Awareness Month. Children who are in Foster Care in our state are children who have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. Some are able to return home, others are adopted, and some literally "grow up" in the foster care system, going from one home to another until they "age out" at eighteen, never having known the love and guidance of a stable parent.
One of the objectives of the Orphan Care Ministry here at The Family Church is to find ways that we can share the love of Christ with these children. It is our desire to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves" (Prov. 31: 8), reminding the church that these children are here and the need for those who will reach out to them is vast. Whatever stage of life you are in, youcan minister to orphans right here in our community. As a ministry we have been working hard to raise awareness of the need for foster and adoptive parents and for Guardian Ad Litem volunteers who will advocate for these children in the court system.
 CLICK HERE: to read complete article
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Family Student Movement |
SUMMER PREVIEW
Beginning with VBS
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2011
WHO: 4 yrs old - (completed) 5th Grade
WHEN: June 13th-17th;
9am-12:15pm
WHERE: The Family Church
COST: $15 registration fee includes VBS Backpack, Water Bottle, CD, Study Guide,
and Snacks and Crafts for the week.
*Registration in The Family Church lobby or in the FSM Building*
You may also contact Jennifer Prior (joesdawn@msn.com) or
Angela Renick (angelar@thefamilychurch.net) to register.
CLICK HERE: to print regististration form pdf
CLICK HERE: FOR ALL THE FSM NEWSLETTER
featuring
ALL PROGRAMS SCHEDULED FOR THE SUMMER FROM KIDZVENTURE THROUGH FUZE |
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Men's Ministry Jim Guth | |
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
--Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)
The trainer began the seminar by asking us to take our watches off of our arms and put them on the opposite wrists. We chuckled as we did so and she continued with the seminar.
Within moments I became aware of the strange feeling of looking at my watch in a different place. I became increasingly uncomfortable. My watch should be on my other wrist! Why? Because I always wore it there! I quickly moved it back.
Now the trainer was laughing. I noticed everybody else was also moving their watches back to their original position.
"Even the smallest change bothers us," said the trainer. "We often fight it without any real reason."
God wants to change me into his image, yet I feel uncomfortable and try to hold onto my old ways. Let us give God total control of our lives and allow Him to change us, knowing that it is always for our best.
Click Here: to read about Iron Sharpens Iron Conference Information
www.floridamenofintegrity.org
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| Women's Ministry ~ "It is Time!" Rene Cloutier |
It's time! Spring has sprung. All things are becoming bright and more beautiful. The birds are singing their wonderful melodies; the Son is shining brighter than ever before. (Is that even possible?) That which was dead is now alive. No wonder God chose this time of year for the resurrection of His only Son!
Now is the time for God's people to rise up; stand out for Him and by our example of faith arouse a dying world that they may come to know Him. Now is the time for us to really believe what is possible through us by the power of God's Holy Spirit and His grace poured out on us.
The other day I was reading one of my journal entries from a few years ago. In this particular journaling (as is with many of my entries), I was crying out to God about a particular matter in my life. I was asking, "When God?" Five days later, my life was changed forever.
CLICK HERE: to read on
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| On The Home Front with Connie Reid | |
Garden Tips
Have you ever seen a prettier spring in Gainesville than the one this year! As the white lace of the dogwoods gives way to green leaves, many are assessing the yard damage from the hard winter. Undoubtedly, you will have some grass or plantings that need some attention. Here are a few tips.
As you weed out flower gardens and hedge areas, replant grass runs into dead areas of your lawn instead of just throwing them away. Not only is it frugal, but you will match the same color of your surviving grass. St. Augustine , for example, has different types and the color varies from floratam to palmetto.
Randy went to pick up some roses and they happened to have a specialist there giving tips. Here is the "sure fire" formula she gave for planting roses. Mix the following per plant and mix in with the existing soil.
1/4 bag of 50 LB bag of cow manure
1 Cup of Bone Meal
1/2 Cup of Magnesium Sulfate
1/2 Cup of Rose Food
Used coffee grounds and egg shells are good ongoing additions to your roses too. (That one is from me as that doesn't make the store any money). The roses like an acidic soil which the coffee grounds promote and the egg shells provide calcium which is obviously coming from bone meal. Make sure to always wear heavy plastic gloves when working in the soil or with fertilizers. Organisms and chemicals can enter your body via your skin.
My final tip for this month is to do all spring fertilizing before June 1 when temperatures will be less favorable to a good outcome.
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| SPRING HOEDOWN | |
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"Blessed are they who maintain justice,
who constantly do what is right."
Psalm 106:3 -
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