Playing Catch Up!

Hello All!

We had a light class this morning! We sure did miss everyone. Lots of sickness going around. We pray that everyone can get well!

I know I have not been the best about the class communication. We've had some upgrades to our family so I'm praying I can maintain this responsibility even while traveling!! I appreciate everyone's patience while ironing out the details.

TAILGATE SUNDAY

Next Sunday is one of the most fun Sunday's in our church (or so I've heard!)!!!! Be sure to come decked out in your favorite sports apparel and arrive with an empty stomach. And be ready to be transported back to your days of good ole high school football games complete with a pep band!

To go along with this celebration we have TWO exciting events associated with Tailgate Sunday!

1) The Life Pancake Brunch! - We are in a competition to max out the number of people we've had in our class. We need AT LEAST 21 people present next Sunday. This would be a great opportunity to invite someone to experience an exciting, laid back Sunday! We will have an abbreviated lesson and then feast on pancakes that will be prepared in our room. We will be in contact with what we need everyone to bring. Or if you want to comment back on this post with what you are willing to bring that'd be great too!

2) Super Bowl PAR-TAY @ The Hoop's!!! - Arrive at 4:30p with your choice of meat for the grill and a potluck dish/favorite tailgate food.

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CHILDCARE NIGHT - Next Sunday is the last opportunity to purchase tickets for childcare night on February 12th. We are treating this as a date night in order for those couple's who would like to celebrate Valentine's to do so.

NEXT WEEK'S LESSON - February 7th

When Priorities Are Challenged

Background Passage: Mark 11:1–12:44

Lesson Passages: Mark 12:13-17,28-34

Lesson Passages Outline:

1. What Do I Owe Government? (Mark 12:13-17)

2. What Do I Owe God? (Mark 12:28-30)

3. What Do I Owe Others? (Mark 12:31-34)

Biblical Truth:

Christians have obligations to God, to others, and to their governments; but they are to

give priority to God.

Life Impact:

To help adults give first priority to God

I'm traveling to Baltimore this weekend, but look forward to seeing you all at the Super Bowl party where my beloved Colts will fight for their 2nd Championship title!!! GO COLTS!!!

Coming Soon!!!!

Pay attention!

Lots of new and exciting things are about to be posted!!!

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee

I received this the other day and it really hit home with me regarding how others see me when I'm faced with adversity. Do they see Jesus? Or do they see me trying to take control and making a mess of things?

CARROTS, EGGS & COFFEE

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how

things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make

it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling... It

seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and

placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first

she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she

placed ground coffee beans . She let them sit and boil; without saying a

word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the

carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and

placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a

bowl....

Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.. She did

and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to

take an egg and break it After pulling off the shell, she observed the

hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the

coffee.. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same

adversity: boiling water .. Each reacted differently. The carrot went

in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the

boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile.

Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after

sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The

ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling

water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your

door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean ?

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter

and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain.. When the water

gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

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I unexpectedly picked up a trip this week so I'm traveling sooner than I thought I would be, but praise the Lord it's a SHORT trip! Just an overnighter to St. Louis. See you all on Sunday! Unless my sister in law somehow scores free tickets to the race for us and someone takes pity on us and watches Brooke! :) What a ministry opportunity! he he!

Praises to Him,

Susan

Full House

WOW!!! What a great showing today in class! It was fantastic to see so many people there.

For those of you who were not there... you were definitely missed!

Thank you Lindsay for guiding us in such a heart felt lesson. We appreciate the time you and John put in in teaching us the Word.

Hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween. The fall festival was great!

Just a couple of announcements;

- Parenting Seminar is coming up this weekend.

- Our next night out is Friday, November 13th. We plan to meet in the Sunday School room and hang out and play some guys. Something was mentioned about Scene It! One of my favorite games!

- Christmas on the Blvd is coming up December 6th. There are many volunteer opportunities to help with this community outreach event.

Please see below for information from the church website on the event and to become a part of it!

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We are inviting our neighborhood through direct mail and word of mouth to join us on this special evening. We will be intentional in sharing the gospel message; which is the good news of why Christ was born.

We will need many volunteers to facilitate this enjoyable evening of sights & sounds. There are many ways to help. Please write to us atmusic@nrhbc.org or call the main office at 817-284-9206 and say "I can help" and let us know what you would like to do.

Christmas on the Blvd Live Nativity Casting List

1st Scene: Mary & Joseph (1st pairing)

2nd Scene: Shepherds and Angels
Shepherds: Adult Male (4) Youth Male (2)
Children Male (2)
Angels: 10 female youth, 4 young adult males

3rd Scene: 3 Kings
3 Adults & 6 Youth attendants (2 for each king)

4th Scene: Manger
Mary, Joseph, Baby

Food servers (20), Photographers (4), Children's Craft areas (24), Photo Dress Up Manger (14), Face Painting (16), Garland Decorations (10) in mid Nov., Electrical Needs with basic knowledge of electrical workings (4), Gospel Presentation (10), Greeters (20), Parking Security (10)

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Hope everyone has a blessed week!

Next week's focus scripture:

Choose Wisely - Psalms 1:1-6

I don't know about you, but I just adore fall. The season of life where the colors and fragrances are changing. The time where people are safe to emerge from their homes again without the fear of getting 3rd degree burns... so refreshing. Therefore... Happy Fall Y'all!!

"Holy Sunday Morning, Bat Girl! Where is everyone?!"

Lots O' People out this morning. And *I* was actually there. Should I take that as sign?! Okay, here's everyone's heads up... I will not be there next week so come on in! The last long work trip!! WHOO HOO!! I will elaborate on that later.

Janessa did an awesome job this morning teaching the lesson! Everything flowed quite cohesively. She did fantastic even if John held her paycheck hostage to bribe her in to doing the teaching. Pay her John! She did fabulous! :)

*John didn't really hold Janessa's paycheck hostage... but these are the types of funny stories you missed out on if you weren't there!

Announcements...

- Leadership Meeting next Sunday @ 5pm, Room 140.

GARAGE SALE!!! Time to dump your junk. Please let Janessa know if you plan to participate in the garage sale. October 2nd-3rd. A little junk, a lot of junk... matters not. Please come and participate in the fellowship of passing your junk to someone else's treasure box.

I've already cleaned out one cabinet (of 86) and it feels so good!

Never been involved in a garage sale before or just not sure how to price things? Well, I ran across this article. Maybe it will help you. GARAGE SALE PRICING.

BRUNCH FOR THE BUNCH

OOPPS!!! The Bohanon's were suppose to provide breakfast this morning! My bad! So sorry everyone. We all got a little off track by my lack of reminding who was up next. The Hoop's were so graciously volunteered (and enthusiastically agreed!) to bring the breakfast next week.

Be on the lookout for a new sign up sheet to go around for October and November.

CHANGING GEARS

I mentioned a little something above about this being my last long trip for work. The reason being is that I took a new position at work set to start in the next couple of weeks. I had sent an email to a couple of people, John being one, and his suggestion was to post my email on here for you to read, for this certainly is a message for you too!

Dear friends,

Many months ago when the Lord brought us to NRHBC we had it in our hearts that He was going to do a mighty thing - and, of course, He did not disappoint. He immediately blessed us with friendships that we had so desperately been praying for for months.

Not long after the Lord filled my heart with joy from being a part of a class and choir again, did He find it in his plan to drastically increase my travel at work. And although we felt this was the Lord leading us towards some financial goals we had it took me away from what filled my heart, thus dampened many aspects of my spirit.

I was offered a new position within our company last week. I was not confident that they would be able to match what I was currently making with all my overtime from travel. The offer came in last night and although it is a pay cut I will be receiving a PRAISE RAISE by being able to be at home, much, much more (currently 0% travel). We had a figure in our head that we were willing to accept, but the Lord actually brought the offer in higher. He's just so good like that...
taking our needs and desires and extending them as only He could do. The fear of the unknown has a way of stopping us in our tracks if we let it. This is a scary venture for me because I'm leaving the greatest team and manager I've ever had in my working career.

Thank you for your prayers, concern and care for me and my family. It was a constant reminder to me of what I crave and desire the most - a relationship with Him and a fellowship with you. I had originally turned the opportunity down, but after attending choir last week and knowing in the depths of my heart that that is where I wanted to be every Wednesday night I immediately went in Thursday morning and officially applied for the position and was accepted by the afternoon. At this time I have one more 7 day trip planned starting next Wednesday and then will start the new position on October 1st.

Thank you for your prayers!
Susan

And because I feel John's response is equally as poignant, I have attached his response as well:

"What a powerful testimony to the faithfulness and provision of our Lord. You should post this on our blog. I think we all need to hear these type of praise reports because we all struggle with 'everyday' stuff in which God is actively involved. Certainly NOT to trivialize the workings of God in your life, I just think sometimes we surrender the really big praises to God for healing during illness or comfort during loss (all of which you have gone through over the past year) and we forget that he is involved and an active part of all of it."

My promise to you (once my final trip is complete) is to be more faithful in our blog posting and newsletter provision.

Have a fabulous week everyone! Be on the lookout for upcoming news and announcements!

NEXT WEEK'S FOCUS SCRIPTURE - Psalms 135:1-21; God is Great

"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold.
-" Children's Song from the 1880's

Get Lost?

Soooo... did everyone make it safe and sound to the new room this morning??

Everyone, except me? I will use this little blog for some personal time and tell everyone how much we appreciate your prayers during my little surgery last week. It was truly a last minute thing and we didn't have time to get the word out to everyone. Also, want to thank everyone for adopting my husband and daughter while I will be traveling this week/weekend!

Okay... on to official business... I hear we had some guests this morning. I hate that I wasn't there to greet them in true "The Life" style, but I remember fondly how well we were greeted and have no doubt you all did the same with the new folk.

Sorry I did not get a newsletter out this week, but you all being the understanding people that you are I'm sure will forgive me. Since there was not a newsletter to remind you... allow me to do so...

NEXT WEEK's

THE BAKER'S

Also, for a little "unofficial" business... here's some scoop on the FFL. The DRAFT party is this Saturday at 1pm. Looks like John got the thumbs up for the gathering so here is all the contact information for the party:

John & Melissa Groce

604 Colts Neck Court

Colleyville, Texas 76034

Home: (817) 514-6393

Cell: (817) 939-6393

Google Map

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That is all I have! I hope you all have a blessed week!

As always, please feel free to email me with any blog posting requests - bohanons @ gmaildotcom

Family Fun Night!!

The rain held off for us to have a great time at the Central Aquatics Center in Hurst last night! If you were unable to make it, know that you were greatly missed. The kids certainly had a great time! View the pics and keep on scrolling for some vital information!!

There are a lot of things coming up in The Life class!

Leadership Meeting - Sunday, August 16th @ 4pm. No location has been discussed. Yikes, that's TOMORROW! So this just might be a mental telepathy meeting. We'll keep ya posted!

Moving on Up - With Promotion Sunday (August 23rd) approaching we will also be promoting to a new classroom. You are welcome to stay in the class we are in now, but just be mindful that you won't be seeing our bright, shining faces in that classroom. Instead, move on down to Rooms 112/113 to take part in the normal Sunday morning banter that you've grown accustomed to and makes you say, "aaaahhh, now THIS is what Sunday mornings are all about!"

Draft Party - Time to dust off those pre-season football web pages and gather all the info you need. And considering I've never participated in a Fantasy Football, there isn't much more I can write about this... just be ready! The tentative party is scheduled for August 29th @ noon, home of the Groce Family. ** tentative and subject to change (because John hasn't asked Melissa's permission yet!!}

I'll Be There for You! - That's right ladies... you heard correctly. What you've always wanted... A FRIEND'S MARATHON!! The weekend of Labor Day! Stay posted for more details. We're still looking for anyone who might be willing to host the event. So if you're interested let us know!!

Got something you'd like to include on our blog? Just let me know!! email me at bohanons@gmail.com - this is OUR site and I will be willing to add whatever information you'd like!