March Not-So-Buried Treasure T HE WORD. Think About It BEREAN BIBLE CHURCH 2329 PROSSER ROAD KNOXVILLE, TN 37914

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1 March 2013 Not-So-Buried Treasure What images come to mind when you think of treasure? Precious sparkling gemstones? Jewelry and gold coins tucked away in a hidden treasure chest? What would spiritual treasure look like? The Bible tells us it looks like thēsauros. Translated treasure in the Bible, it means the place in which good and precious things are collected. The place. Not the riches themselves. It s the location of the collected things that is the actual treasure. And just like the X that marks the spot on many a buried-treasure map, God has given us a map in Scripture to discover the place of our hidden treasure it s where our heart is. The thoughts, desires, affections, and purposes of our hearts mark the place where we re collecting things that we deem precious. And, let s be honest, sometimes our heart s desires need to be relocated. Bigger houses, new i-gadgets, and more possessions aren t meant to occupy the storehouses of our hearts. God created our hearts to store up heavenly things. We don t need a map to find a hidden treasure chest. We can open our own hearts and follow a few women who had the courage to go to the place where devotion and faith are found: the cross. Even the disciples didn t follow Jesus to the cross, but a small band of women did, and watched from a distance. Imagine the depth of love Mary Magdalene and the other women must have had for Jesus to endure witnessing his suffering on the cross. While people cried crucify him! these women remained faithful. They were rewarded for their devotion three days later with the first knowledge of his resurrection to new life. These women discovered the places of their heavenly treasure. The cross and the empty tomb where they collected the precious gifts of salvation, hope, and love. And there, in those sacred places, is where we ll find the treasures of the true desires of our hearts. BEREAN BIBLE CHURCH 2329 PROSSER ROAD KNOXVILLE, TN T HE WORD Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21 Think About It This Easter season, what are your heart s desires?

2 March 2013 Page 2 Easter Storytelling Cookies Start a new tradition with this creative way to share the Easter story with family or friends while making yummy treats. Ingredients: 1 cup pecans 1 pinch salt 1 tsp. white vinegar 1 tsp. vanilla 3 egg whites 1 cup white sugar Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place the pecans in a resealable plastic bag. Read Matthew 27: Crush the pecans into small pieces with a mallet or rolling pin. Read Matthew 27: Pour vinegar into a medium size mixing bowl. Read Matthew 27: Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Read Matthew 27: Sprinkle the pinch of salt on the egg whites. Read Matthew 27: Add vanilla and sugar, and beat with electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Read Matthew 27: Gently stir in pecans, and drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto the parchment paper. Read Matthew 27: Place the cookies in the oven, and turn the oven off. Go to bed and read John 16:20. Open the oven in the morning, and take the cookies out. Read Matthew 28:1-9. Enjoy a cookie, and savor the sweetness of God s love! The Longest-Running Passion Play The longest-running show on Broadway is in its 25th year, just a blink of an eye compared to the over 375 years the longest-running passion play has been performed in Oberammergau, Germany. The play was first performed in 1634, after the villagers vowed that if God would save them from the plague that was spreading throughout central Europe, they would put on a performance of the life and death of Jesus every ten years. And they have been doing just that ever since. With almost 2,000 performers (all residents of Oberammergau), the five-hour performance was seen by over half a million people during the summer of Tickets can be harder to come by than a Broadway show, so it s never too early to start planning for 2020! Want to know more? Visit YouTube to watch the Oberammergau Passion Play 2010 Official Trailer. Share the Treasure The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched they must be felt with the heart. (Helen Keller) Share the beautiful treasures of your heart this month by giving them away! Share peace. Let the frazzled mother go ahead of you in the checkout line. Deliver dinner to a sick friend. Invite someone to take a quiet walk in the park. Lose an argument. Share hope. Pray. Pay for a stranger s coffee or lunch. Donate to a local food bank. Send an encouraging verse and note. Smile even when nobody smiles back. Share love. Play together. Hug more often. Laugh. Let someone else be first. Forgive and forgive some more.

3 March 2013 Page 3 Media Morsels Book Review The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series Author: Alexander McCall Smith Publisher: Anchor This much-read and beloved series stars Precious Ramotswe, a strong, relatable, and traditionally built woman who uses an inheritance to open the only female-owned private detection agency in Botswana. Her adventures range from hilarious discoveries to run-ins with the sobering realities of life in our times. The series, 13 books and counting, features wonderfully endearing characters. Among the most compelling is Africa itself, which figures prominently in each story. The series lovingly and gently approaches universal and important questions we all face and delivers lessons in culture and history at the same time. Plus, the author s wonderful humor shines through even the most complex dilemma. This is a great book club read! Music Review Rest Artist: Beckah Shae Label: Shae Shoc Records Release Date: September 2012 Over the last few years, Beckah Shae has grown in prominence in the world of popular Christian music. She has proven she can mix up a potent combination of biblical truth and fresh tunes that keep you tapping your toe and praising the Lord long after the music stops. In this most recent album, Shae departs from her usual style to embrace a more subdued sound. With reflective and worshipful lyrics, her songs will inspire rest and peaceful time focused on God. This page is designed to inform and educate you and is not an endorsement. Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what you see, read, and listen to.

4 March 2013 Page 4 "And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva..." PMS Night! (Pizza, Movie, Sweets) Tuesday, March 19, Showing: The Princess Bride (Rated PG) Running Time: 98 minutes A woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn) finds herself in love with Westley (Cary Elwes), a farmhand who leave to find his fortune across the sea. I will always come for you, he reassures her. Word gets back to Buttercup that his ship was attacked and her love is dead. She makes a promise to herself that she will never love again. Five years later she finds herself engaged to Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), whose intentions are questionable. A mysterious masked man kidnaps her, and together they must battle swamps, giants, and a Rodent of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.). With the unlikely help of a revenge-obsessed sword maker, a friendly giant, and a miracle maker, true love and justice eventually prevail in this classic story of adventure. Ladies and girls, you are invited to join us for our Pizza, Movie, and Sweets Night. We will be watching "The Princess Bride," (rated PG) and you are encouraged to display your inner princess by dressing up, wearing your tiara, etc. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed and to the winner of "The Princess Bride" trivia contest. Pizza will be served at, and the movie will begin at 7:00 PM. The cost is $3 per person, and you can sign up this Sunday as you wish. To miss it would be INCONCEIVABLE! After the Movie What are some of your favorite lines in the movie? How do they relate to your life? Westley s entire life was devoted to winning back his love. Compare his actions to Christ s actions. How does Westley s love for Buttercup parallel Christ s love for the Church? Rom. 8:31-39 As you wish! was Westley s way of telling Buttercup he loved her. In what small ways does God communicate His love to you every day? Zeph. 3:17; Lam 3:22-23 What are some creative ways we can communicate God s love to our friends and family on a daily basis? To those who don t know Him? Eph. 5:25 Westley and Buttercup overcame great obstacles in the fire swamp. Have you had a fire-swamp experience in your life lately? What did you learn during that challenging time? James 1:2-4 Westley is a great example of perseverance. What motivated him? How can we apply this to the trials we face in our own lives? Heb. 12:1 Even when all hope seems lost, Buttercup never gives up hope that she will be saved. What is your response in seemingly desperate situations? Do you have a quiet confidence that God will take care of you? Ps. 27:13-14 CHOPPED! Cooking Competition Thursday, April 25, 6 PM

5 BELT NIGHT Comments and Observations March 2013 Page 5 We have heard really great things about each of the BELT nights, and how God used this time to encourage us in our identity as His beloved daughters, and to show us each our unique and vital role within the Body here at Berean. We are so thankful for what God is teaching us as we learn to better love each other and connect at a deeper level as sisters in Christ. Listed below are some of the comments we have received from those attending. It is a good reminder to us that God uses our small but sincere words of affirmation and encouragement to do big things in our hearts. To Him be ALL the praise and glory! I attended the BELT night at Eve's house and was very humbled by the experience. I love lavishing gifts on others and found it hard to be the receiver. It was exciting to hear the sweet words of encouragement for others, especially those ladies that I did not know and watch their reaction as those words of encouragement penetrated hearts. Each lady was blessed, encouraged, and humbled. We had a sweet--fun time. I thoroughly enjoyed the BELT night at Carol Z's home. I met two new women which was great! And guess what...one of them has the disease lupus just like me. Hopefully I can be of encouragement to her since I have dealt with this for years. Prayer time was special. I went into the encouragement circle thinking it was going to be hard for these women to find something good to say about me. I was so encouraged to see women be very genuine with their kind comments. It is so easy to believe people are thinking the worst of us, which divides us as a body. This was real fellowship where we had the opportunity to encourage as well as be encouraged. Hope we do it again. The BELT night I attended was such a sweet time. I was encouraged by the ladies' remarks to me, but also by listening to them encouraging the other women. It was especially neat to listen in on what was said to ladies that I don't know well, and so good for me to look for ways (and listen to the Holy Spirit's leading) to build up a person whom I rarely interact with. A big thanks to the Women's Ministry members who worked to make these nights happen! Like most of the women, it would be hard to describe the impact of (re)connecting with other women from Berean. In prep, I spent one morning praying for and listening to God speak about each of you. That prep time was precious, as was that night. I could have done without that evening, but would have missed out on a blessing and an opportunity to bless. I was told that I don't seem to worry or have fears and that I come across as having peace. I thought "wow, that is definitely God's work in my life, because my natural tendency is the opposite and God is the reason I can have victory in this area...truly! Praise the Lord! I used to think my differences made me an outcast, but I see now that God has a unique purpose for me within the body. This new attitude has completely changed my heart as I see the church. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:5-6,13 PRAYING GOD S WORD BIBLE STUDY on TUESDAYS, 9 BBC

6 March A Taste of What s Happening for Women Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1 2 Unveiling Women s Retreat Unveiling Women s Retreat Unveiling Retreat Sunday School 9 AM 10:30 AM Praying God s Word Bible Study 9 AM Wed. Meal 5 PM Awana/Youth Sunday School 9 AM 10:30 AM Ministry Community Mtg. Missions Conference 9 AM Sun School 9 AM 10:30 AM Women s Ministry Team Meeting Praying God s Word Bible Study 9 AM Wed. Meal 5 PM Awana/Youth Missions Conference Praying God s Word Bible Study 9 AM PMS Night Wed. Meal 5 PM Awana/Youth No Sunday School 10:00 AM Fellowship Meal 12:00 PM No Wed. Meal No Awana Youth Church Office Closed 31 No Sunday School 10:00 AM Contact for more information Name: Berean Bible Church Women s Ministry Phone: x300 bbchurch@comcast.net Save the Date! Thursday, April 25 CHOPPED! (Cooking Competition ) Design and base content 2013 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO, group.com/women. Permission to photocopy granted for local church use only.