Submitted by Beth Browning

Greenwell Springs Baptist Church
2011 Marketplace VBS
Jesus:  The Potter
June 20-24, 2011
9am – noon
For all children who have completed Kindergarten – Fifth grade.
For more information or to register your child, call our church office at 261-2246.
 
All About Kids Productions
Performing Arts Day Camp at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church
July 17-22, 2011
Visit lamplightartists.com for more information and registration.

    Vision varies. I used to see clearly, now it's clear I have trouble seeing. I use large print now, but I found out the other night playing softball with the 'young' men I need them to start using larger softballs as well-they say the knot on my head will go down soon!
     Our perception varies as well doesn't it. The way we see things can be every bit as important as if we see. Take a life in crisis for example. The person actually experiencing the situation  may not have the ability to see it as clearly as someone that's possibly more detached. There are many reasons why, emotions, desires, stubbornness the list could be endless. Clearly though not seeing properly leads to not taking the proper action.
My answer for the softball field is thicker glasses. The answer for perceiving the truth with greater certainty is to use the proper filter. For me, that filter is seeing everything through Christ. When that's accomplished I feel more confident that my vision is clear.
 

Dale Phillips
Comite Baptist Church

Submitted by St. Alphonsus

The Prime Timers, the 60 plus group, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Greenwell Springs, hosted a Meatball & Spagetti Dinner with Guest Speaker Former L.S.U. Coach Paul Dietzel. Coach Dietzel spoke on his early days in football and how he became the Head Coach at L.S.U. in 1955.

Pictured left to right with Coach Dietzel,are Prime Timers Committee Members John Culmone, Barbara Culmone, John Desselle, Shirley LaPorte, Coach Dietzel, Gilbert Ardoin, Marie Lee, and Father Mike Moroney, Pastor of St. Alphonsus.

I’m Not 80! I’m 18 with 62 Years Experience!
 
Psalm 92 has a wonderful promise for righteous, godly people who are moving up in age!
 
           “They will still bear fruit in old age,
            They will stay fresh and green, proclaiming
            ‘The Lord is upright; He is my Rock,
            There is no wickedness in Him!’ ”
            Psalm 92:14-15
 
When, by God’s grace, we maintain a vibrant, personal, daily relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can stay “fresh” and “green” and continue to bear fruit and have influence on others!
 
Central is a great city blessed with many 18 year olds with years and years of wisdom and experience!  We honor you, we are blessed by you, and we need you!  Thanks for staying fresh and green!
 
Dick Metz
Cornerstone Fellowship

Submitted by Nicholas LeBlanc

It's nearly summer again! For Central Bible Church that means that we will offer, for the sixth time, a course called "B1." B1 is a ten week course in Inductive Bible Study Methods. It is designed to give the basic tools, the basic skills, needed to dig into the Word of God for your own personal study or for preparation to teach God's Word to others. This course is foundational and a prerequisite for all other courses in the discipleship program of CBC. And it should be taken as a basic course in the Christian faith by all who claim that title. We are glad, therefore, to open enrollment to the Christian community of Central. Hoping that we might play some small part in equipping the saints both in and outside of our church walls as we fulfill our commitment to seeing people transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the person of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God the Father.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to study the Bible?
Do you want to grow in your faith?
Do you want to be equipped to answer biblical questions?
Do you want to form close Christian friendships?
Do you want to know how to connect the ancient text with the modern context?

This is the course for you. Join us for B1, 7:00pm on June 1, 2011!

Learn more information about the discipleship program of Central Bible Church at 
www.central-bible.org

Email us at church@central-bible.org to sign up for B1 or for more information.

    The “Disaster Relief Chain Saw Team” at Zoar Baptist Church has been on the road lending aid to many in need this month.  2 weeks ago, after the tornado that wrought such devastation hit Alabama, the team hitched up their equipment trailer and, along with Galilee Baptist, Florida Boulevard Baptist, and Live Oak Baptist, travelled to DeKalb and Jackson Counties in north Alabama.  While there they removed trees from 17 houses in Guntersville and other nearby towns.  4 days after they returned from Alabama, they were called out to Prayer Lake Retreat Center in Lettsworth to help evacuate machinery and equipment.  Charles Watson, Zoar’s disaster relief chairperson, shared, “It’s a great ministry.  The Lord put us here to serve.  We feel like this is what we are called to do – it’s our part to help others.”  The team is now gearing up to be ready to help when the floodwaters abate.  Call Zoar’s church office – 261-3434 to find out how you can help.

    This past Saturday members of Blackwater United Methodist Church gathered to assemble “flood buckets” for the Sager Brown UMCOR Disaster Relief Depot.  Sager Brown is used as a central location for disaster relief supplies in Louisiana.  Flood Buckets are 5 gallon buckets containing disinfectants, sponges, rubber gloves, and other flood cleanup needs and will be in great demand in the coming weeks and months. Other members hit the road and canvassed neighborhoods asking for food donations for the Central Area Food Bank.  Several hundred pounds of groceries were gathered.  This effort was a part of the “One Great Day of Service” opportunity over 1000 Methodist Churches in the United States participated in this past week. To donate to the purchase of flood bucket supplies and to participate in other disaster relief opportunities, please call the Blackwater Church office at 261-4646.

The Truth of the Matter 

“You want the truth?” “You can’t handle the truth.” You know those lines from the movie “A Few Good Men.” The movie takes us through the difficulties faced by a young lawyer in a military trial. He loses his star witness, confronts a hostile witness of higher rank, and contends with his lack of trial experience and the tendency to compare himself to his own father. Added to the drama was the fate of two defendants, charged with a serious crime.

Separating truth from the drama associated with the issues of life can be challenging. Normally, the truth is not as sensational as movie writers make it out to be. It’s just the truth and the truth is seldom celebrated nowadays. Jesus however made a very powerful statement about truth: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Like the young lawyer, we may have to face our own weaknesses to get to the truth.

Blessings to You,
Pastor Bill Parsons, Central Worship Center

Let Not the Darkness

    Isaiah chapter 9:1 says “The people in darkness have seen a great light.” The darkness of our world, and many times of our lives, always presents us with  challenges and opportunities. It is from our confrontation of the darkness that we can truly be the light of Christ. However, in life we can become overwhelmed with the darkness, and it can begin to take over our lives. Darkness has many faces, such as injustice, greed, power and lifestyles just to name a few. Light and darkness are never far apart and there are times we have to stop and reflect on our blessings or we will choose the darkness.

    Just over five years ago this great City of Central began with many blessings and opportunities: new school system, new developments, new businesses and many people moving into the area. Now that God has blessed us and opened new doors for us we have to be good stewards of the gifts. This is our awesome responsibility. For some the responsibility is greater than for others especially our leaders and our elected officials as they continue to help us grow and develop. Yet we all are a part of the light  as we continue to strive to build, support and encourage lifestyles where the value of God, family and all life is held in the highest esteem. This responsibility can never become a personal agenda but  has to always focus on Him from whom all authority comes and belongs. Come Holy Spirit to give light to our way.

Rev. Michael Moroney (Saint Alphonsus Liguori)

    Peace is one of the most precious and sought after commodities in our world today. People are looking for peace in every aspect of their lives. Often, we think that peace is found in the absence of conflict. Therefore, we try to eliminate as much conflict out of our lives as possible. In addition, we seek peace in far-off exotic places. Unfortunately, upon return, conflict and turmoil are still present.

    Jesus introduces us to a different and promising perspective about peace. The peace He gives us can be experienced in the midst of conflict and without having to escape. Jesus says in Philippians 4:7,  "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

The place to find peace is in Jesus, for He is “…the Prince of Peace…" (Isaiah 9:6).

Glenn Murphy,
Pastor Grace UPC