The Messenger. December. December The Road to Everlasting Life. December 2013 ISSUE 357 VOLUME 30 THE MESSENGER.

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1 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID 0057 Permit No. 9 VOLUME 30 December 2013 ISSUE 357 PROVERBS 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him, for he refresheth the soul of his masters... The Messenger The Road to Everlasting Life December Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." We are an independent Baptist Church, still preaching the Word of God as it is, to people as they are. We are furthermore satisfied that the King James Version of the Bible is the preserved, inspired Word of God. If you have not yet followed the Lord in Believer s Baptism or if you feel the Lord is leading you to join Smith Grove Baptist Church, please see Pastor Chuck. December 2013 THE MESSENGER Smith Grove Baptist Church P.O. Box 57 Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM Junior Church 11:15 AM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wednesday Service 7:00 PM Bible Clubs 6:45 PM Thursday Visitation 7:00 PM - NURSERY PROVIDED Sandy Ridge Road Dr. Charles (Chuck) Peters, Pastor Home: (336) Cell: (336) Sun., Dec. 8 Sun., Dec. 8, 6:00 pm Tues., Dec. 24, 7:00 pm Dec. 22 Christmas Dinner ~ covered dish meal in the Fellowship Building ~ after the morning service. Speaker: Missionary Eric Walton BEAMS Sunday Mid-week Prayer Meeting.

2 TWAS THE NIGHT JESUS CAME Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house, not a person was praying, not one in the house. The Bible was left on the shelf without care, for no one thought Jesus would come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever kneeling or bowing their head. And Mom in the rocking chair with baby on her lap, was watching the Late Show as I took a nap. When out of the east there rose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what s the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and lifted the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. The light of His face made me cover my head, it was Jesus returning just like He d said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. In the Book of Life which he held in his hand, was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as he searched for my name, when He said it is not here I hung my head in shame. The people whose names had been written with love, He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound, while all the others were left standing around. I fell to my knees but it was too late, I waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight, Oh, if only I d known that this was the night. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear, The coming of Jesus is now drawing near. There s only one life and when comes the last call, We ll find out that the Bible was true after all. By Jeffrey Cummings The Stovers ~ Missionaries to Peru The Truth: In the past few months, the Lord has really stressed to me the importance of preaching the Truth of God s Word. Several times a month, we have Mormons or Jehovah s Witnesses knock on our door trying to share their good news. Sadly, their message is contrary to God s Word and leads people to Hell. It has become even more urgent to me to lift Christ up high as I share the truth of God s love. What the world needs is Jesus, and not anything else. Please pray that myself and our fellow laborers here in Tacna would be faithful in teaching others to speak the truth of Jesus Christ, so that others might know the way, the truth, and the life. Prayer Requests: -Visa approval: We continue to wait for an appointment to present our papers for residency. The process has taken longer because the Peruvian government is becoming more reluctant to grant religious visas. Calvary Baptist Church: We are thankful to God for the church that we have been privileged to work in for the last 8 months. It has been wonderful to see more people out and participating in visitation opportunities. What a blessing to see people with a desire to share Christ s love with those of their community! As a result, God has blessed us with a consistent number of visitors in our services. This past Sunday, one man trusted Christ as his personal Savior following the morning service. Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom as we minister here. Progress: Our Thursday evening Bible study continues to be a great tool in teaching the Word of God. Even through the winter months when there was colder weather in the evenings, the Lord gave us a consistent number of people from the area. Now that the weather is getting warmer, we are praying that even more folks will come. Every week we have shared the Gospel. Please pray for Libia, Cinthia, Elisabet, Rosa, and Andres to be saved. Specifically, please pray that God would help these people to understand that good works cannot save them. Many people have the idea that religion or even just taking an interest in God will take them to heaven. Please beg God with me that these precious souls will understand and pass from death unto life. Our Family: Sara is doing well, and is now in the 3rd trimester. Our 5th little one is due at the end of January. Josiah is working away in 1st grade, Caleb knows his ABCs, Joshua will celebrate his 3rd birthday in November, and Lydia is talking up a storm and climbing on everything. It is a blessing to serve the Lord as a family here in Peru! It is a privilege to see the Lord at work here, and humbling to know that it is only with the prayers of God s people that the work can continue. Because of this, we can agree with the Apostle Paul as he states in Philippians 1:3, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Your servants for the Savior, Robert, Sara, Josiah, Caleb, Joshua, and Lydia

3 December Birthdays 1 Adalyn Finney 3 Sheila Payne 4 Mackenzie Barham 4 Chasity Ramey 5 Willis George 5 Elaine Lowe 7 Joretta Holt 10 Reva Holt 11 Rhoney Wilson January Birthdays 2 Adrian Barham 3 Jerry Crump 3 Bessie Sloop 4 Keith Crouch 4 Kevin Crouch 5 William Holt 6 Shirley Ingold 7 Wanda Stafford 7 Kathy Flynt 10 Gary Hendrix 12 Lydia Beeson 12 Tori Heath 16 Gale Tester 16 Jan Wilson 17 Jessica Holt 19 Neva Long 19 Todd Tucker 20 Andrew Harrison Smith 21 Johnny Cameron 12 Becky McCollum 29 Louise Byrd 14 Emberly Lynn Tate 30 Briana Crews 17 Doris Cochran 30 Austin Russell 17 Jennifer Finney 30 Allen Tate 20 Stephanie Hutton 30 Betty Bame 23 Rachael Keedy Terry Dillon 23 Matthew Norman 27 Morgan Flynt 27 Dolly Westmoreland 29 Brianna Clemmons December Anniversaries Cleo & Reva Holt Waynard & Carol Nuckles 23 Bernice Johnson 23 Nancy Kelly 30 Barbara Bowden 30 Lillie Mae Crump 31 John David Payne Craig Pearman Lonnie Tucker Song of Solomon 8:6a & 7a Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death... 7a Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it:... BEAMS Report for October 2013 #of Pledges: 8; # of Contributions: 15; Total Contributors: 23 Total Contributed: $ = 58 Bibles in October BEAMS Report for November 2013 #of Pledges: 7; # of Contributions: 16; Total Contributors: 23 Total Contributed: $ = 58 Bibles in November [Includes shipping & some monies direct to missions.] You can also get the BEAMS report online at our website: What is Grace? Gained Righteousness At Christ s Expense Grace is Received And Can t be Earned Growing Revolution And Carnal Execution Giving Redemption And Communion to Everyone Get Ready And Come Expectantly Gap has been Realized And Connected Entirely God Reigns And Christ is Exalted God Really Always Can Endure Hallelujah!!! Member Change of Address: Iris Farrington 233 W. Homestead Ave Shelby, NC Phone: (704) John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

4 The Young Adult Class has been studying characters in the Bible using the following format, with the theme, Let God Use You. Leadership - Caleb Energy - Jonah Testimony - John the Baptist Glory - Mary the Magnifier Opportunities - Luke Devotion - John the Beloved Attention!... Young Adults We heard you! Homework, school projects, sports commitments, and a myriad of other demands on your time have you pulled in different directions. So, we want to help you to be a part of your wonderful Smith Grove Baptist Youth (SGBY) ministry. Unselfishness - Judas Service - Philip Enthusiasm - Peter Yieldedness - Paul Obedience - John Mark Usefulness - Demas To better meet your needs, beginning in January, we will be changing our format and changing the night that we meet. Starting January 5 on Sunday night, the SGBY - Smith Grove Baptist Youth - will start meeting in the fellowship building at 6:00 p.m. If you are 13 years of age and older, please join us on Sunday, January 5, as we kick off a time of worship, fellowship, and fun! Attention!... Adults with young people in your home. Please encourage your young adults to join us beginning January 5 for lifechanging fellowship and answer God s call for their lives. In order for our youth to become God-fearing individuals, they need Biblical help to combat the forces of evil that are all around. They are bombarded by temptations from everywhere - the Internet, Social Media, and Television. We want to give your young adults another avenue to grow in Christ while having Christian fellowship with their leaders and peers. Please set aside this time and encourage them to make SGBY - Smith Grove Baptist Youth a weekly priority. Yours in Christ Smith Grove Baptist Youth! SHUT-INS Louise Byrd Iris Farrington Harry Haynes Neva Long Jo Anne Pegram Billy Pendry REMEMBER IN PRAYER Raynelle Shields Louise Smith Barbara Tucker Forrest Tucker Clara Ward Mary Westmoreland Gerry Williams SICK/OTHER NEEDS: JoAnn Alley Dot Long Doris Anderson Gurney Lunsford Sherri Bowling Richard McCormick (thyroid surgery) Ann & Ed Morgan Chip Bryant Sally Nester (liver Thelma Bullard cancer) Tammy Burnett (cancer) Charlotte Pettet Johnny Clark (diabetic ulcer) (heart transplant surgery) Gene & Oma Lou Pitts Patrick Clark (CHF) Kathy Rayle (stroke) Kim Garrett (Cancer & Sandra Richardson Crohn s Disease) Peg Schwartz (Cancer) George Hayes (heart Violet Sealey (back issues) problems) Kathy Shaw (surgery) Rhonda Hedgecock Wade Smith Ricky Hedgecock Betty Soyars (stroke) Tim Hedgecock Dennis Westmoreland Jimmy Johnson Kenneth Westmoreland Assisted Living/Nursing Home Helen Jones Curney & Rose Matthews Betty Robinson Reid Westmoreland Jan Wilson Praise Report on Joshua Kollas (3-yr-old with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome): We just learned that Joshua is home and doing well. Praise the Lord for answered prayer! BEREAVED: Families of Frances Cook (Sam Crater s late wife s mother) Kent Moses Pray for those... In the Service of our Country Matthew Bennett, stationed in Atlanta, GA PFC Dylan Freeman, US Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, CA (Great Grandson of Louise Byrd) A1C William Holt, US Air Force Pope AFB, Vass, NC CW3 Jonathan Harless (Raleigh, NC) Maj. Robert Harless (160th SOAR, Savannah, GA) Charles Holmes, Al Asad Air Base (Northern Iraq) Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Maine, US Army [Germany] (Nephew of Clarence Redmon) SSgt. Samuel A. Priddy, Marines - New River (Jacksonville, NC) - son of Brenda Westmoreland

5 Our Honour Roll Smith Grove s ministry to our widows and widowers Honour widows that are widows indeed. (I Timothy 5:3) This is a continuing churchwide ministry to remember widows and widowers of the church in a meaningful way. Each month, we highlight our special Honour Roll Gang Members who are having birthdays. Listed below are December and January Honour Roll Gang members. Please take a moment to send a card, make a telephone call, or do something extra special for our special saints. Joretta Holt 8412 Stafford Mill Rd. Oak Ridge, N.C (Cell) ~ December 7 Kathy Flynt 1965 Sandy Ridge Rd ~ January 7 Neva Long 8716 Staples Road ~ Dec. 19 Dolly Westmoreland 520 Lakedale Rd ~ January 27 Bernice Johnson 5220 Prince Charles Dr. Kernersville, NC ~ Dec. 23 Louise Byrd 2211 Golden Gate Dr APT 301 Greensboro, NC ~ January 29 The Theater A villager came to the big city for the first time in his life. He was amazed at the many wonders in the big city. He wanted to buy something to bring back to his village. Most of the items needed electrical connection and his village didn t even have any electricity. He was delighted when he found a flashlight. He bought the flashlight, which fascinated him every time he pushed the switch and a bright light came on. As he continued on his way, he noticed people waiting in line. He inquired what this line was for and was told that they were waiting to enter a theater where there was a movie playing. He had no idea what a movie was, but decided to wait in line too. He paid for a ticket and was ushered into a dark room. After a little while, a picture started playing. He was fascinated to see the beautiful scenery and all the action on the screen. Then he remembered the flashlight in his pocket. I will shine the flashlight on the picture, so I will see it even better. He took out the flashlight and shone it straight at the screen, but to his amazement the picture became faded. From all sides people started shouting that he should turn off the light! But I only wanted to get a better view of the picture, he said to the one sitting next to him. Don t you know? Here, we see only in the dark! replied his neighbor. The moral of the story: The same is true in the theater of this world. Many of the pleasures and values which people pursue have value only because we find ourselves in spiritual darkness. When we bring spiritual light into our lives, (John 14:6), these values and pleasures fade, for they are only imaginary and temporary. Habits CHAPTER 1 I walk down the street. I fall in. I am lost... I am hopeless. It isn t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. CHAPTER 2 I walk down the same street. I pretend I don t see it. I fall in again. I can t believe I am in the same place. But... it isn t my fault. CHAPTER 3 I walk down the same street. I see it is there. I still fall in. It s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. CHAPTER 4 I walk down the same street. I walk around it. CHAPTER 5 I walk down another street. By: Portia Nelson Letting Go of Bad Habits by Amy Joy (...An excerpt) When we accept the sacrifice of Christ to bring us back into communion with God, we begin a process called sanctification. I heard someone explain sanctification one time in such a great way: God loves us too much to leave us the way we were. Sanctification is when the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to change our habits, thoughts, and words to make us more Christ-like. This does not mean we are becoming better in order to earn our way into heaven. We know this because of what it says in Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, and in Romans 10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We are sanctified because we are walking breathing gospels, not because we can earn anything ourselves. People look at us and see a representation of our God, and therefore we must represent Him well. We are no longer in bondage to sin, so we have the opportunity to become more Christ-like. Sanctification, my friends, can be very difficult. Especially since it requires our participation. That isn t to say you should run around the second you get saved and become a falsely perfect person. Sanctification requires us to listen to the Holy Spirit s promptings, submit ourselves to God s will, and ask for forgiveness from sins we realize we are committing.

6 The Grinch That Tried To Steal Christmas When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:3 When Jesus was born, it was the ambition of Satan to destroy this, seed of the woman destined to bruise his head. His surrogate was none other than Herod, the wicked diabolical despot. He would epitomize the Grinch as set forth in Dr. Seuss s story. Yes, Herod, would desire to kill the One that Christmas is all about! He wanted to steal Christmas! Every year around Christmas time the Grinches come out opposing the true meaning of Christmas. In some cases the opposition is subtle but in other cases the Grinch openly spews his hatred towards the One that defines Christmas. The Grinch in the famous Christmas story attempted in his own way to steal Christmas and his Grinch nature is highlighted in both appearance and attitude. He is both hateful and ugly! The basic point of the story is that he is against Christmas. There are a host of people and forces today who are against Christmas. Maybe we need to define what it means to be for or against Christmas. I would argue that the ones who truly celebrate Christmas are the ones who embrace its true meaning. Christmas is all about the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth incarnated in human flesh. His coming was to fulfill the mission of the redemption of sinners. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Lk.19:10) His ability to redeem was proven by His virgin birth, His impeccable life of being, God manifested in the flesh, His vicarious death at Calvary, and His victorious resurrection. I would furthermore argue that anyone who allows the holiday aspect of this glorious event to trump the holy day aspect of the event is against Christmas! I do agree that the season along with its various activities is enjoyable. I, on a personal note, love much of the things that go on around Christmas. I love the Christmas music; I love the Christmas decorations, I even enjoy watching, The Grinch that stole Christmas! My mind is flooded with memories of childhood and Christmases and I, too, become a little lonely at not having the whole family together at Christmas. There is within our human nature a hurt at the loss of the Christmas past. We that are saved by the grace of God can ponder the true meaning of Christmas and be thrilled that this Christmas will never be stolen! Thank God this One who came to this earth, clothed Himself with human nature, died on the cross and rose again the third day, lives even now and is coming back to this earth again. He will establish real peace on this earth. The Religious liberal Grinch tries to steal Christmas in his denial of the virgin birth of Christ. Does he succeed? No! The Word of God and the testimony of the sinner saved by grace prove that Christmas has not been stolen. by Pastor Chuck Peters The Atheistic Grinch may try to steal Christmas by his denial of the existence of God but does he succeed? No! I think of what the Psalmist said in reference to creation. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (Ps.8:3) I then think of God s love that drew salvation s plan. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Jn.3:16) We can truly see that creation is God s finger work and the redemption of the sinner is God s heart work! This Grinch will never steal Christmas! The Commercial Grinch subtly attempts to steal Christmas. He would market the event. His emphasis is upon the holiday aspect and the opportunity to cash in on the purchasing of Christmas shoppers. I understand that shopping is a part of what we do at Christmas but I also believe that the attitude of greed dominates many merchants during this time of the year. Anyone who defines Christmas in terms of selling and buying is a Grinch for they work against the true meaning of Christmas. There is another type of Christmas Grinch which I call Seasonal Sentimentality. This is another one of those subtle Grinches. This Grinch would reduce the joy of Christmas to only the past when families were all intact and life seemed to be simpler and serene. This Grinch wants to steal Christmas by planting the seed of depression over our inability to reclaim Christmas past. This old Grinch would have us to say and believe, Christmas is not the same now for family members have died and the kids are no longer at home. He needs to be reminded that family members have died and kids have grown up, married, and moved out on their own but does that destroy Christmas? Christmas is still the same because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He would have to be destroyed to destroy Christmas. Finally, I would discourage listening to the Christmas Scrooge Grinch who goes around with his bah humbug, sad, sorrowful demeanor. He can t steal Christmas. He may resent the happiness on the part of those who know through salvation the Christ of Christmas. He may try to dampen their joy. He will, however, be forced to hear them sing, Joy to the world, the Lord has come. As long as the Lord lives, which will be forever, the joy of Christmas will live on for the Christ of Christmas will dominate the grateful heart of the one taken out of the slave market of sin and redeemed by amazing grace! Thank God, no Grinch will ever steal Christmas!