The country is facing the aftermath of vicious winter storms. Many of these affected areas have unimaginable amounts of snowfall and frigid temperatures. I have family and friends that are stuck and a few are still without power. It was only a year ago when Thomson and the surrounding areas in the South were hit with a debilitating ice storm. Storms can cause panic, concern, and unexpected delays.

Ironically, I was in the pathway of such a storm with twenty-six youth and parents from our church this past weekend. We had a fun-filled weekend of skiing, fellowship, and Bible study, but the approaching storm was a constant thought in our minds. This weekend I was both in awe of the beauty of God’s creation on the snowy peaks, but also reminded of the strength and power of storms.

In our devotional times on the ski retreat, we shared daily experiences from mountain and how we experienced God. We discussed three experiences Jesus had on a mountaintops with others in the Gospel of Matthew. First, Satan tempts Jesus on a high mountain, however, Jesus resists Satan by standing firm to God’s Word (Matthew 4:8-11). Later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to another high mountain. They experience the transfiguration and hear the Father proclaim, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). Finally, the very last words from Jesus in Matthew occur on a mountain. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Our group of skiers made it back safe and sound from the mountains right before a storm hit, but there are many others in our nation that are struggling through the aftermath of winter storms. We need to pray for them. No matter if we are having a mountaintop experience or living in a current storm of life, we should look to Jesus. Jesus stands firm to God’s Word. Jesus is the Father’s beloved Son whom we should listen. Jesus has all authority and commissions us to go and make disciples. Jesus is with us always. And Jesus calms storms. 

We just want to bring your attention to three special events happening next week:

• Tuesday (2/24): Wild Game Supper Interest Meeting at 7:00 PM in the Committee Room. You don't have to commit to being in charge of anything if you come to this meeting; this is just an opportunity for you to share your ideas with us how we can make our next Wild Game Supper even more effective than the last. Tentative Schedule - late February, early March 2016
• Wednesday (2/25): North American Missions Study during our PM services. Join us in the Fellowship Hall as Karen Pace, representative from the Georgia WMU shares with us what's going on in the area of missions here in the USA. All adult groups, Royal Ambassadors, and Girls in Action will meet for the study.
• Saturday (2/28): Upward Awards Night at 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary. This is not just for the kids who played Upward this year - it is for their families, friends, supporters, everyone! Not only will there be a fun program, some great entertainment, and another chance to cheer for these great kids, but it is also a wonderful chance for the members of First Baptist Church to welcome and meet the many visitors we've had in our building through this great program.

As I watched our people pour down front to place the names of their lost family, friends, coworkers, classmates, and neighbors on the Lord's Supper table, I could sense the Lord saying, "This is the beginning of revival."

Not that we can in any way force God to move, but rather God's moving is our force for change and for new life. The Bible and church history both show us there are certain barriers that hamper and even block revival and evangelism:

• Lack of resources to support evangelistic efforts
• Lack of basic needs and personal security for those needing salvation or revival
• Lack of time and energy to devote to evangelism or spiritual care (because they have to spend their time supporting their own families)
• Lack of training to guide and direct the efforts of evangelism or organize the care necessary to nurture revival

Thankfully, God has already made provision for all of our lacking. Through prayer and giving, we can see all of those needs met so that the path is clear for people to come to faith in Christ and for our church to experience true revival.

One way our church meets needs and "clears paths"  is by sending a portion of our tithes and mission offerings through the Cooperative Program, helping people (including us) carry out the mission here and around the world. Watch this short video from our Georgia Baptist Convention that describes how our Cooperative Program dollars work:

So simple, yet so powerful. The people of God are truly better together.  I pray we will continue to Love God, Love People, and Serve the World Together so that those we know (and those we don't) can come to faith in Christ and find their place at His Table. David

Youth Ski Trip

• Prepack, Thursday (2/12), 6:00 in the Warehouse
• Trip, Friday-Monday
• It's too late to sign up to go, but we can pray for everyone's safety, fun, and rejuvenation

Valentine's Day, Saturday (2/14)

• Just to be safe

Parenting Class

• Jesus-centered parenting in a child-centered world
• Starts Sunday (2/15)
• It's NOT too late to sign up and come!

No Cornerstone Preschool on Monday (President's Day), but the church office will be open

Brotherhood Dinner sponsored by the Men's Outreach Class, Monday (2/15), 7:00

Ash Wednesday Lord's Supper Service

• All Adult groups, teenagers, RAs and GAs will not have their normal Wednesday evening activities and instead enjoy a special service
• Wednesday (2/18), 6:00, Sanctuary

Father-Daughter Dance sponsored by the Y130

• Saturday (2/21), 6:00
• This is NOT a church event, but we are allowing the Y to use our Fellowship Hall, so obviously it is clean, family friendly fun; tickets are available at Y130

Wild Game Supper Interest Meeting

• Tuesday (2/24), 7:00 Committee Room
• For anyone with ideas or suggestions for the next Wild Game Supper in Spring 2016

David and I switched weeks for our email encouragement (if you're expecting to hear from him on the first Thursday of the month), and I happened to have looked up the word "assigned" in my Bible. It translates two words: the word "didomi" which can specifically mean "to entrust to one's care" as in a special assignment (1 Cor 3:5), and the word "merizo" which can specifically mean to distribute among people (1 Cor 7:17, and 2 Cor 10:13). Check out those verses:

In these words, Paul speaks of their (1) task, their (2) status, and their (3) place. The wider context of these verses is contentment, as in (1) don't get so caught up in who should get credit for a job well done, (2) don't get so caught up in changing your social status that you lose focus on Jesus, and (3) stay focused on your responsibilities where you are.

What does this mean to us? Well, look who did the assigning . . . God! God assigned Paul and those churches a specific part of a larger task, in a specific place, with a specific group of people. God chose to give them that role. And that's still true today. Do you think any part of your life is an accident? God put in Thomson because He wants us to be here. God gave us certain social conditions because He wants us to use them to reach people. God gave us skills and resources because He wants us to make a difference where we are with what we have. It's our assignment from God. Let's complete it together! Always in Jesus, mattward

Here are just a few special reminders . . .

• Malakim Creative Worship begins rehearsals again this Sunday (2/8)
• The Parenting Cross Current begins next Sunday (2/15) (yes, Ben will be gone with the youth on the ski trip, but he has assigned a "substitute" for the class)
• The next Brotherhood Dinner will be on Monday 2/16