By James Lamkin

September 28, 1952

     On an early autumn afternoon sixty-one years ago, a bunch of Baptist neighbors signed on the dotted line. They claimed a history and a hope. They were, and forever will be, the charter members of Northside Drive Baptist Church.

     I look at their signatures on occasion. The document often hangs in our conference room. For six decades it has overheard many festive and many feisty committee meetings.

     A lot has changed since '52. If indeed, "Life is like a river," then the river has changed. Back in the day, a church desiring to be progressive could bootleg off of the vigor of the culture. The 1952 rising river of optimism gave a great ride to many noble organizations, including the American church. Education, family, neighborhood, and good 'ole southern culture appeared as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.

     Kids walked to nearby schools. School calendars were porous and more leisurely. Buckhead's middle-incomers shared similar boundaries and values. Young "boomers" multiplied. Neighbors visited at the nearby grocery store and in the post office. Folk gathered every Sunday afternoon for cook-outs on the church lawn at the grill of chef Fisher Alberson.

     Times are different now. The cultural river that was so generous to the church back then, has now changed course. Its streams are scattered and shallow. The church now has to do its own paddling! No free float trips.

     This is not necessarily bad. Church is a choice. We have to intend to do it and to be it. This challenge invites a rethinking and a back-to-basics boot camp. We speak of church as a place; but it really is a people...God's people. Also, it is a way of "living life Christian," that requires a Christian community.

     Given the Perimeter's tourniquet, it is harder for the church to gather for family reunions every weekend. Many other activities attract.

     And yet...I believe the best days for Northside Drive Baptist Church are not in Camelot's archives; they are in the calling and committed hearts of God's people. The river which will float us into the future will not be the river of culture, but the one that "flows by the throne of God," as the hymn writer said. Yes, we'll gather at that river; and God's promise is that it will never run dry.

     This week, we will do what we've done since 1952. We will cry and laugh. We sing and observe silence. We pray and praise as we worship and wonder. We will meet together; and we will be aware of the presence of God.

     I thank God for the spunky folk who said, "Count me in," years ago. Their bold joy still thrives in our DNA. Their robust love rests in our bones.

     Whatever shape Northside Drive Baptist Church takes as the years roll on, it will be propelled by the rowdy hope of those charter members in 1952. For them I say, "Thank you."

Wednesdays through Advent 

@ 10:30 AM, in the Conference Room      

     YOGA meets on Wednesdays @ 5:15 PM, in the Fellowship Hall with Amanda Gregg. The cost is $60 for a 6-week session or $13 per class for drop-in. Bring a mat, water, and small towel, and wear comfortable clothing. To make a reservation for a class session, email Amanda at mandayoga@gmail.com or visit www.northsidedrive.org.  

A Book on the Boundary:
A Study of Deuteronomy 

Led by Rev. Mike Gregg

September 11-November 20

@ 6:15 PM in Room 202

     The Israelites are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Moses delivers a pep talk to guide the people as they look ahead to their new lives as followers of the One God. Deuteronomy is a book on the boundaries. The reader is taken to the boundary of the land, the edge of the future of the Hebrew people, and the threshold of a new understanding of God. This study will explore the limits of the text while increasing our knowledge of God's law.

Chapters 1-4: The Spies and Remembering the Wilderness Journey

Chapters 4-6: The Ten Commandments

Chapters 7-11: Taking the Land, the Golden Calf, and the New Tablets

Chapters 12-26: The Deuteronomic Code: Worship, Diet, Leadership, and Identity

Chapters 27-28: Blessings and Curses

Chapters 29-30: Renewal of the Covenant and Exhortation to Obedience

Chapters 31-34: Joshua Becomes Leader, The Song of Moses, and Moses Dies

2013 Interfaith Partnership for  

Habitat for Humanity Build

Northside Drive Baptist Church Work Days

    Day 6 - October 5 (4 Volunteers)

    Day 7 - October 12 (6 Volunteers) Dedication Day

The Ledbetters

Sunday, October 6, 2013

In the Narthex

        The members of the Ledbetter family have all had a long career in the graphic arts, producing commercial art, fine art drawings and paintings, and photography. Alice, Gene and then Anne majored in graphic arts in college.

      Alice and Gene Ledbetter worked in the commercial arts industry for many years, and then in the late 1970's they founded A La Carte Graphics, a commercial art studio. Their daughter Anne later joined them in this family art studio. Anne is continuing the family tradition with a business call "Bark Photography."

     Stop by and see a retrospective of their work on display in the Narthex, Sunday, October 6.

TRIPLE E

with Dr. Tom Vander Ven

Tuesday, October 8, @ 11 AM

In the Fellowship Hall

       Tom will read from his new book, [Enter Ghost], which explores in short stories, essays, poems, and plays, our consciousness of exile and our longing to weave our lives into a narrative fabric of self, family and community.

Led by Dr. Tom Vander Ven

Wednesday, October 9  

@ 6 PM in the Parlor

(No Deuteronomy Bible Study this evening.)  

Young Adult Dinners at Home

Every First Friday at 7 PM

Friday, October 11, 2013 

@ the home of James & Liz Lamkin

Sharing food and friendship that feeds our souls.

with Bruce Gourley

Executive Directory of the *BHHS

October 12-13, 2013 

     Northside Drive Baptist Church invites you to a weekend with Bruce Gourley, Executive Director of the Baptist History and Heritage Society. We will celebrate our Baptist roots and learn more about Baptist life from historical and modern perspectives.

Saturday Evening Reception

Topic:  Correcting the Modern Baptist Image

Date:  October 12, 2013

Time:  5 PM

Location:  Legacy at the River Line Clubhouse

6200 Carriage Gate Ln, Mableton, GA 30126

(Food and drinks will be served.)

Sunday Church School Presentation

Topic:  Modern Role and Relevancy of Denominations and Baptists

Date:  October 13, 2013

Time:  9:30 AM

Location:  NDBC Fellowship Hall

(Refreshments and childcare will be provided.)

Sunday Fellowship Service

Topic:  Our Baptist Heritage and Extraordinary Baptists

Date:  October 13, 2013

Time:  11 AM

Location: NDBC Sanctuary

 ____________________________________________

     Bruce T. Gourley is the Executive-Director of the Baptist History & Heritage Society (www.baptisthistory.org) and the author of six books. Originally from Douglas, Georgia, Bruce now lives near Bozeman, Montana with his wife, Debra, and daughter, Elizabeth.

Sunday, October 13 @ 1:30 PM

   The Callaway Cup golf tournament is scheduled for October 13, 2013! The after-church outing is for all members, regardless of age, gender or talent. This is early notice to SAVE THE DATE (10/13/13). The highly coveted Callaway Cup is held by 2012 winner, Hal Meeks, the tournament founder and organizer. Named in honor of Raymund Callaway, a long-time member of NDBC, this is the last major "toonamint" of the year.

     To sign up contact Hal Meeks at 404-293-4042 (c), 404-352-2438 (h), or hmeeks@jamesbatesllp.com.

Sunday, October 27, 5-6:30 PM

     Get ready for costumes, candy, and carnival games at Trunk-or-Treat! This year, we'll need your help with spooky bounce houses, bean bag toss, disk drop, and much more! We're collecting extra candy now until Sunday, October 20. Invite your kids, your neighbor's kids, and of course all grandchildren.

     Set-up will start at 3:30 PM. We'll serve hotdogs and chips for $2. Childcare will be provided for children of volunteers. Bring your festive car trunks filled with candy and put on your smiling faces! Let's work together to make Trunk-or-Treat a fun, community-wide event for all ages! See Rachel for volunteer sign-ups and questions at rachel.northsidedrive.org.

61st Anniversary Sunday

SUNDAY, September 29

  9:30 AM - Church School

10:25 AM - Children's Choir Practice

11:00 AM - Morning Worship

12:15 PM - Anniversary Luncheon

  5:00 PM - Northside Drive Ringers

TUESDAY, October 1

10:00 AM - Staff Meeting

WEDNESDAY, October 2

10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study

  5:15 PM - Northside Yoga

  6:15 PM - Deuteronomy Bible Study

  7:00 PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry

  7:30 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

THURSDAY, October 3

  7:00 PM - Young Adult Meeting

SATURDAY, October 5

Habitat for Humanity Build