Community News 11/30/17

Community News 11/29/17

Community News 11/28/17

Care Network 

Life often presents obstacles that can seem difficult to overcome.  God is bigger than our circumstances and desires for us to move into a more dynamic relationship with Him.  Care Network serves the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of those of us who find ourselves in difficult situations, through a variety of ministries, helpful resources, and trained volunteers.  Join us tomorrow evening at 6:00 for a dinner by donation from Lola's and Care Network will begin at 6:30 PM. 

Beginning @ Brevard

Join us this Thursday at 6:45 PM in the auditorium or on Sunday, December 3rd following either morning service in the Brown House, which is the building next to the auditorium.  B@B gives you a chance to get familiar with WHO we are, WHERE we're headed, WHY it's important, and HOW you can get in on it.  A light meal will be provided and kids are welcome to attend. 

Women's Advent Event

Please join us for a Christmas Advent Celebration, Saturday, December 9th from 10 AM to 12 PM, in the BCC Student Center.  We will celebrate the Lord through worship, the Christmas story, prayer and communion.  All women are welcome.  Any questions, contact Liz Fleming at lfleming@phri.com.

Senior Adults

Join us Tuesday, December 12th from 8 AM to 4 PM, where we'll take a bus to Billy Graham Library in Charlotte for a tour and lunch.  Please register for the Billy Graham Library by December 1st by going to http://brevardcommunity.org/#/events.  To RSVP or for any questions, contact Jean Willoughby at 828.329.4000 or jeanbwilloughby@yahoo.com. 

Compassion Experience

More than 700 million people in developing countries live on less than $1.90 per day, facing challenges most Americans never will.  Experience another world without leaving yours.  The Compassion Experience is making a five-day stop at BCC, November 30-December 4.  This interactive tour will bring visitors on a journey into he lives of two Compassion-sponsored children living in Kenya, and the Dominican Republic.  You don't want to miss this event.  To register or volunteer, go to https://cts.compassion.com/events/930. 

Community News 11/28/17

Community News 11/27/17

Community News 11/24/17

DAY 5 OF WEEK 3

Jeremiah 29:5-7

Years ago, I was having extremely bad headaches. Eventually I was having some short-term memory loss, vomiting, blurred vision and anxiety. I went to the doctor and they ordered an MRI to see if I might have a brain tumor. Waiting for the results was the longest four days ever. I was sick, scared and I felt the world closing in on me. Fortunately, the results showed no tumor and I started feeling better soon.

Feeling broken and hurt is a desperate place to be. Thankfully, I had my family, my church, my friends and God. However, I often imagine if I had to go that path all alone. The truth is that many people around us are going through very difficult things and they need peace. Like you and me, they’ll search until something satisfies their immediate need. Will you and I pick up the mission to meet broken and hurting people right where they are?

In the book of Jeremiah, God’s people found themselves taken from Jerusalem and placed in captivity in Babylon. Straight from peace to chaos, probably wondering where their God was. They likely intended to do the very same thing we would have. They would have wanted to distance themselves from the culture, language, rituals and practices of their oppressors. They wanted walls of separation. Jeremiah delivers a better plan, God’s plan.

God sent them into that chaos and he had a plan to bring peace. The peace he wants to bring will be ushered in by the actions and engagement of his people with the chaos around them. In the same way, God has placed us in the middle of chaos, brokenness, pain and suffering, so that we can be carriers of peace. Peace is most recognizable in chaos, just like light is in darkness and salt is in blandness.

Peace is most alluring when it is placed in opposition of chaos and confusion. So build bridges to broken people, not walls. Close the gap between yourself and those that are desperate for healing.

Take a little inventory of the people in your life. You likely have coworkers, family, friends and neighbors that are experiencing much chaos in their lives. We often catch news of tension filled marriages, stress over finances, worry about kids and health problems, but we seldom take the time to invite God to bring peace to those people. Jot down a quick list of people that would benefit from more peace in their current, chaotic situation.

Pray for those people by name. Invite God to give them perspective and peace. Pray that God would send other believers to help them. Pray for health, relationships and finances to be resolved.

        Adapted From:  Life On Mission - You Version

Community News 11/23/17

DAY 4 OF WEEK 3

Matthew 28:19-20

God placed you in the community that you live in so that you can be a blessing there. Many of us are waiting for our marching orders but they have already been given. We’re standing at attention waiting to be commissioned, while the earth keeps spinning and we’re missing opportunities each day.

The marching orders have already been given and we need to respond appropriately. To many, making disciples is the task of the professional pastor, but it is really the mission for the believer. Making disciples is simply investing your life into someone else so that they meet and respond to Jesus’ invitation to abundant life. So, as you are going to the grocery store, make disciples. As you walk your dog around the block, make disciples. As you pick up your kids from school, make disciples. As you work at your job, make disciples.

This week we learned about what being a neighbor is really like. God has placed you in your city for a reason. He has revealed his great love to you and he has already orchestrated great relationships for you to invest your time and prayers. Now it’s time to put some of this into very intentional practice.

Choose one, or more, of these options as a way to love your neighbor. Feel free to make this a family event and involve your kids, they’ll love it.

1. Invite a neighbor over for dinner.
2. If someone is new in town, invite them to your favorite coffee shop.
3. If you notice someone moving in, bring them cookies or a pizza. Maybe help them unload the moving truck.
4. Perform a random act of kindness. Mow someone’s lawn, move their trash bins, pick up trash at the local park, etc.
5. When someone tells you they have a job interview, a test, a doctor’s appointment, mark it on your calendar. Follow up with them and let them know that you’ve been praying.
6. Help someone carry heavy groceries to their door.
7. Get involved with a local community group. Your community likely has a neighborhood watch group that you could get involved with.
8. Spend more time outside. It’s amazing what can happen if you are just present.
9. Write a letter to a neighbor. It’s always nice to get a non-bill letter in the mail!
10. Take a prayer walk around your neighborhood, praying for your neighbors.

Adapted From:  Life On Mission - You Version

Community News 11/22/17

DAY 3 OF WEEK 3

Romans 15:2

Months ago, I loaded a truck up with 12 bags of luggage and a family of four to take them to the airport so that they could move back to Australia. Frantic to make it to the airport on time, we loaded up the truck. I made it about 6 feet when I realized that we had a flat tire! We had no options to get them to the airport. It was getting dark and there was little hope that the Los Angeles airport would pause for us to arrive. I attempted to jack up the car and change the tire to the spare. However, the jack couldn’t get the truck up high enough.

I desperately ran to my neighbor’s house and asked him if I could use his floor jack. He could see the desperation in my eyes as he walked me to his garage. There, in the distance was a wonderful commercial sized floor jack to change the flat. I was able to fix the tire and get them to their flight on time. They sent me Tim Tams and Aussie licorice for my trouble! The point of the story is this: I’m so glad that I already knew my neighbor because pounding on their door at 10 pm without previous relationship might have not gone very well. I had invested time and energy in that relationship earlier, so we had a history. I also knew that he had lots of tools.

Loving God and loving your neighbor appear to be intimately connected. In this case, the order is very important for us. Love God first and out of that love, love your neighbor. You most certainly put your socks on before your shoes and for good reason, because the order is important. If we want to be a people that love our neighbors, as God would have us, we first need to experience the love of God for ourselves. Then, we can reflect his powerful love in our relationships.

We need to be a people that are willing and able to be inconvenienced with opportunities to love our neighbors. Imagine if your reputation in your neighborhood was that you continually build people up and put courage inside of them, that you took time to listen, be present and be helpful. I wish I had neighbors like that so I should take the initiative and be that kind of neighbor.

This probably happens to you a few times a week. You’re walking out to your car and someone is walking their dog past you, your neighbor is mowing their yard, someone is grabbing their mail or they are pushing out their trash cans and you lock eyes. What do you say or do? You probably do what I do. Your first inclination is that you do that “nod.” You know that one, the one that says, “I see you, you see me, we saw each other.” The nod is slight and it is really more of a slight chin tuck towards the chest, like you’re a genie granting a wish. Let’s be honest. Is that really taking advantage of a God given relationship? Probably not!

So, I challenge you to take that genie nod and upgrade to a “How are you? How are things? How’s the family?” Be super adventurous and attempt a handshake, it’s a novel idea. Take a posture of engagement with your neighbors, get interested and involved in their lives.

Pray that you can take advantage of the next opportunity that comes your way to be a good neighbor. Pray that God will help you, because it can be intimidating to approach a stranger that is your neighbor.

(Maybe now is a good time to take a quick walk around the block and see if you get a chance to be a good neighbor? Don’t wait for them to come to you, you have already been sent by God!)

Adapted From:  Life On Mission - You Version