Moments with Your Mission Strategist

 Dr. Dennis Love

“Slam Dunking Holiness”
 

I recently drove past a house and saw a young boy playing basketball by himself.  Two things came to my mind.  (1) I don’t see kids outside playing much anymore.  (2) It reminded me back to my own childhood when I played a lot of basketball by myself.

When I was growing up, my friends and I played basketball all the time.  When my friends were not around, I played by myself.  I dreamed of one day playing for the UNC Tarheels and knocking down a game winning basket with only seconds to play.  I also thought that I would grow to the point that I could actually jump up high enough to dunk the basketball.  Well, I grew up and made it to 6 feet….but I still couldn’t dunk a basketball.  So, I figured I wasn’t using the right techniques, or jumping off the right foot, or coming from the right side of the basket, or maybe I wasn’t holding my mouth right or something.  I tried everything I knew to do, and I still couldn’t even come close to dunking a basketball.  So, at some point, I just accepted that other people, many even shorter than me, could dunk, but I never would be able to get high enough off the ground.  So, I just stopped trying.   

As I think about my inability to dunk a basketball, I’m reminded of God’s command in 1 Peter 1:16 when He said; “Be holy, for I am holy.”

God knows my heart, and He knows I truly believe in Him, and my desire is to live for Him and be obedient to Him.  But living holy……that’s hard!

It’s not like I don’t try, but it’s hard.  I mean, it seems like just when I start getting my act together, my mind goes haywire; or when I get my thoughts right, my mouth gets out of control.  So, reaching God’s standard of holiness seems as much out of my reach as the inside of that basketball rim 10 feet in the air.
 

How about you?  Can you dunk a basketball?  More importantly, can you live holy?  You may or may not be able to dunk a basketball.  It really doesn’t matter either way.  But I can almost guarantee that you really struggle at trying to maintain holy living.  It’s just not in our DNA to maintain constant holy living. 

Therefore, let’s promise God this.  Let’s promise Him that we will never stop striving to live holy.  Even though our flesh keeps holding us down, and even though this world keeps blocking our shots.  Let’s keep reaching for what seems out of our reach. 

WHY?  Because God is worthy of our efforts, and I believe He will honor and bless us in our trying to slam dunk holiness.  I know I will never be able to slam dunk a basketball.  However, I know that every now and then, I can slam dunk some holiness in my life! 

 
 

God is Good

Dennis
Eph. 3:20-21
 
 
LEAH R. KELLEY MA LCMHC
 
Leah is the counselor at Hope In Christ Counseling.                       

Her office is located at 130 Logan Street, Marion. 

Phone number is 828-559-7710.

 

Gratitude

“God gave you 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say Thank you?”                                                                                                                                                                                           -William Arthur Ward

     Thanksgiving has just passed and most of you have already celebrated Christmas. We often think of the month of November and specifically the Thanksgiving holiday as a time to be grateful. However, gratitude should be a part of our everyday lives, especially as Christians. The Bible says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, KJV).

     Therefore, we see that God commanded us in His word to “give thanks”. In addition to this, God created our bodies and minds in amazing ways. Often, we think that science is in opposition to God and His word. However, there is scientific proof of the glories of God’s creation. Over the last few years in the counseling/psychological community, there has been a great deal of research in the area of gratitude as a treatment for anxiety. What research has found is that learning to be grateful can reduce anxiety.

“At a neurobiological level, gratitude regulates the sympathetic nervous system that activates our anxiety responses, and at the psychological level, it conditions the brain to filter the negative ruminations and focus on positive thoughts.”(Chowdhury, 2019)

So gratitude changes the pathways in our brains to reduce anxiety.

     Interestingly, God’s word has already told us this: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, KJV). The next verse goes on to say, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” So, when we give thanks to God, He will help calm our minds.

     Gratitude has a number of positive effects on our brains, our bodies and our social life. Research has found that gratitude can bring happiness, improve health, improve professional commitment in the workplace, strengthen social bonds, release toxic emotions, reduces pain, improves sleep quality, aids in stress management, and decreases depression and anxiety. Since God’s word has already told us to do so, we should move through this season looking for things to be grateful for instead of dreading the busyness of the Holidays and the upcoming New Year!

BRBA RECEIPTS JANUARY 2023 THROUGH NOVEMBER, 2023

 

Indiv/Business Contribution

2,293.18

Ashworth Road

1,890.08

Bethel

1,750.00

Bethlehem

200.00

Catawba Heights

2,412.90

Chapel Hill

694.25

Cherry Springs

1,771.49

Clinchfield

1,166.69

Cross Memorial

750.00

Dysartsville

800.00

East Marion

749.99

Garden Creek

1,144.01

Glenwood

10,845.09

Grace Community

6,400.00

Greenlee

4,000.00

Hankins

250.00

Harmony Grove

1,000.00

Macedonia

700.00

Marion First

999.98

Nebo First

1,501.00

New Horizon

900.00

North Cove

600.00

Old Fort First

2,836.89

Pleasant Gardens

2,158.34

Sugar Hill

600.00

Vein Mountain

800.00

West Marion

588.31

 

Thank you for your faithful support of BRBA!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

In an attempt to save on the cost of postage, future newsletters will not be mailed via United States Postal Service.  The newsletter will be on our website and newsletters will be delivered to each of the churches of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association.

If you are a shut-in or know of someone who may not be able to attend church, please contact the office and the newsletter will be mailed to you.

 
 

CHURCH NEWS

Clinchfield Baptist – Will be having a yard sale Saturday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Proceeds will benefit retired McDowell County Fire Inspector, Kevin Owenby who needs a kidney transplant.

Clinchfield Baptist – All You Can Eat Breakfast April 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

First Baptist Church of Old Fort – Easter Eggstravaganza and Egg-cellent Adventure, March 30 from 2 pm-5 pm.

West Marion Baptist – Will be hosting an Easter “Trunk Hunt” on Saturday, March 30 from 11 pm–3 pm. There will be plenty of Easter eggs, candy and prizes for all the children that stop by. In the event of rain, the event will be held in the fellowship building.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Rev. Freddie Williams and his family.  Rev. Williams’ sister Cathy Williams Marshall passed away January 27, 2024

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Mrs. Danielle Walker (East Marion)                                                       01

Rev. Freddie Williams (Harmony Grove)                                              11

Mrs. Jennie Ammons (West Marion)                                                     13
 

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

Rev. Brian Gentry (Macedonia)                                                              03

Rev. Michael Robinson (Sugar Hill)                                                       24

Rev. Kevin Arrowood (Bethlehem)                                                         27

Rev. Heath Ammons (West Marion)                                                      27
 

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

Rev. & Mrs. Marty Conner  (Cherry Springs)                                       30

Rampin’ up April 27 and May 4
 
Teams of ramp builders will improve safety and quality of life for aging adults all across North Carolina.

A new generation of builders will engage in missions and learn new skills!

 Seniors will no longer be trapped inside their homes. Loneliness, depression, and other adverse health effects will be reduced.

 

We can put you in touch with an aging adult in your community! Call NCBAM at 877.506.2226

 
Blue Ridge Baptist Association  will be collecting gift cards once again from the following stores:

Walmart

Sam’s Club

Food Lion

Ingles

Piggly Wiggly

I was blessed to worship with the good people at Garden Creek on Sunday, February 11th.  The church will be voting to call Rev. Daniel White to be their pastor on Sunday, February 25th.  Brother Dan preached a sermon on “Identity Crisis” from 2 Corinthians 5:17-18.  He reminded us that we need to understand who we are in Christ, or we could quickly stop acting like we’re His children, and forget who we truly are in Him.

 
 
 

I was blessed to recently worship with the good people at Vein Mountain.  Pastor Barry Gouge preached on the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22.  This is the church that had become lukewarm in their walk with the Lord.  Pastor Barry reminded us that when we become lukewarm in our walk, that Jesus is faithful to welcome us back into a vibrant relationship with Him.  Thanks Pastor Barry for a good word from the Lord.

 
A special thanks to Glenwood Baptist Church for hosting our ServeNC Training/Workshop on Thursday evening, February 15th.  We had a good turnout from our churches, and the interest in ServeNC is building within our churches.  Paul Langston from Baptists on Mission did a fantastic job leading us, and getting people excited about serving their communities this summer through service projects in Jesus’ name. 
ServeNC Training

On Sunday, January 21st, I was invited to preach the morning and the evening services at Clinchfield Baptist Church.  It was a joy to fill in for Pastor Terry, and the good folks at Clinchfield responded well to the messages.

 

On Sunday, January 28th, I was invited to preach the morning service at North Cove Baptist Church.  One lady recommitted her life to the Lordship of Jesus.  It was a joy for me to preach to the good people at North Cove, and they too responded well to the message.

 

On Sunday, February 18th, I was invited to preach the morning and evening services at Bethel Baptist Church.  I also went back and spoke to them on Wednesday evening, February 21st.  The good folks at Bethel responded well to  the messages and they received me with open arms.

 

We welcome Rev. Daniel White into the Blue Ridge Baptist Association as the new pastor at Garden Creek Baptist Church.  I worshipped with them once again on Sunday, February 25th as the church voted on him to be their pastor.  You can reach out with a welcome to Brother Dan with a call or a text at:  828 964-1341   

 
 

NC BAPTIST AGING MINISTRY

 

Your church, association, or agency can register for this free training — and be eligible to receive free smoke alarms to install in the homes of aging adults (65+) in your community!

You’ll learn how to tell if an alarm needs to be replaced, how and where to install new ones, and safety tips to share with aging adults.

 

Through a FEMA Fire and Safety Prevention grant, NCBAM is able to provide FREE smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms to trained installers.

SPRING GATHERING

APRIL 14, 2024, 6:00 P.M.

AT PLEASANT GARDENS BAPTIST CHURCH

 

Your Association now has two meetings per year.  One in the Spring and the other in the Fall.  Our meetings are now referred to as “Gatherings.”  Our Spring Gathering is a time for our churches to come together for Fellowship, Worship, Missions Education, Information and Celebration.  If you have a Sunday evening service, please consider bringing your church to our Spring Gathering so we can all worship together.

B.E.A.R. CLOSET NEEDS

Baby wipes & sippy cups & car seats/ pack n plays

2023 Stats:

1683 Educational/Parenting Classes

108 Bibles Given

50 Pregnancy Tests

114 Ultrasounds

11 Volunteers

1191 Volunteer Hours

 

Served 200 clients (161 Female and 39 Male)

Christmas Shop provided Christmas for 79 children and meals for 35 MPCC families.

 

 

McDowell Pregnancy Care Center welcomed Mrs. Kelly Bennett as the new Director of the Pregnancy Care Center. Kelly is a wife and mother of 3 girls. She has a servant’s heart and is excited about the opportunity to serve the wonderful families of our community.