BlessingsJ u l y 2 0 1 1

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f B y r o m v i l l e B a p t i s t C h u r c h

InsideIron sharpens iron. . . . . . . p. 2

New member. . . . . . . . . . . p. 3

Eric Parker concert. . . . . . . p. 3

School prayerwalks. . . . . . p. 3

Sermon series. . . . . . . . . . p. 3

Nominating committee. . . . p. 4

Called conference. . . . . . . p. 4

Church cookout. . . . . . . . . p. 4

Pure W ater, Pure Love . . . p. 5

Congratulations RNs. . . . . p. 5

VBS pics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6

Monthly info. . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7

Be a hero–give blood. . . . . p. 8

Page 2

Pastor’s column

Iron sharpens iron

The following is a recent blog entry from my goodfriend Victor Scott. You can read more from Victorat www.churchbasementtheology.blogspot.com.

Enjoy. Andy.

The Proverb says: "As ironsharpens iron, so a friendsharpens a friend." (Proverb27:17, NLT). I chose thispart icular translat ionbecause it expresses thesentiment that I feel towardthe men that I have theprivilege of meeting with ona weekly basis. I have beenchallenged to think, pray,read, study and push deeperinto the things that matter toGod each week. We haveencouraged each other and

have prayed for one another. We have journeyedtogether over that last year seeking and finding theGod who promised He would make himself known tothose that truly desire to find God.

There are a couple of observations that I want to makeabout this group, based on the words of this proverb.

First, the quality of the substance is equal. It is "iron"on "iron". There is a compatibility of firmness andcomposition. This does not mean that they areidentical, but they are similar enough to be consideredin the same category. I find this to be a significantfact because if we were "unequally yoked" we couldnot be able to spur each other on to grow and delvemore deeply into what God is working out in each ofus.

Second, there is a second connection between the two"irons". There is a genuine relationship sharedbetween the two. The ESV, NKJV, NASB and NIVall translate this second clause in a similar way, "asone man sharpens another." It is the New LivingTranslation that highlights the implication that thereis a relationship of friendship and camaraderie that

exists and that fosters this mutual instruction andgrowth. If there is going to be genuine accountability,discipline and development then those with whomyou meet must be close enough to you to rub thosethings off that are not edifying and good for growingin righteousness. There can be no sharpening withoutabrasive contact.

With these two observations in mind I would like toprovide some characteristics of this roundtable groupthat have proven invaluable and transformative in myfaith journey. This is not an exhaustive list, butrepresents the keys that I have observed and enjoyedin the time that we have been meeting together.

1. Consistent Attendance: This is probably the mostimportant characteristic of the five. Knowing who isgoing to be there and what to expect is liberating andencourages all the members to come and participate.Our friendships have grown deeper and richer. We arenot merely exchanging platitudes and sound bites ofinformation.

2. Transparent Discussion: Our biases are on display.We all come from different theological traditions andyet we never forget that the reason we can gettogether, enjoy each others company and be built upis because of our common hope and faith in Jesus.Those first few weeks were interesting because therewas a lot of probing and questioning to "make sure"that there was not something amiss.

3. Genuine Affection: There is a true affection for theother members of the group. This love for one anotherhas come from growing friendships and sharedexperiences. There are not many secrets and becauseof the transparency that we have chosen to exercisethe group recognizes how special these bonds and thetime spent together truly are.

4. Humble Consideration: Possibly, to me anyway,this has been one of the more encouraging and neededaspects of our meetings in the church basement. Ihave never felt that what I said or what I proposedwould be dismissed out of hand because I did notshare the same perspective with the other members ofthe group. To be heard encourages a desire to hear.This is where the sharpening takes place. There is(continued on page 3)

New Sunday NightSermon Series

Sunday Morning Seriescontinues in Nehemiah

Eric ParkerIn Concert

July 317:00 p.m.

Church supper to

follow concert.

Page 3

BBCwelcomes new member

Tiffany Arnett has unitedwith BBC by profession offaith. Tiffany was baptizedduring the morningworship service on June 19.

Tiffany currently attends Georgia SouthwesternUniversity in Americus and has applied for nursingschool there in the fall. She is employed by ImpactSports and Fitness in Cordele. She enjoys spendingtime with her friends and family, movies andshopping. She is a runner and runs in local 5-K races,winning one in her division. She also likesparticipating in pageants.

Tiffany lives at 147 Pinecrest Drive, Cordele, with herparents.

About the coverThat’s Cooper Blankenship sitting in KeithLamberth’s lap before morning worship June 19.

Associational news

Schoolprayerwalksset for July 30

Our association is sponsoring the annualPrayerWalking Our Schools on July 30 at 9:00 a.m. The school our church has been assigned to prayerwalk will be announced, but you are free to prayerwalk the school of your choice. There will beprayerwalk leaders and printed prayer guides at all theschools in Crisp and Dooly Counties.

Pray for themission trip West VirginiaPlease pray for the mission team as they travel to andminister in West Virginia July 16-23. If you wouldlike to donate money or school supplies call 229-273-1261. Pray also for a team going to Bolivia on July 20to minister through eye glass clinics.

Committee members neededIf you would be interested in serving on one of thefollowing associational committees, please contactthe Association: Associational Prayer Coordinator,Baptist Men, Sunday School, Discipleship Training,Budget & Finance, Missions, Nominating, Camp,Youth, WMU/WEM, VBS, Evangelism, Memorials,Building & Grounds and Administrative. Phonenumber is 229-273-4127. Email isa.m@houstonbaptistassoc.com.

Church Cookout July 17

after 7PM Worship

Page 4

UP

This two-letter word in English has more meaningsthan any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.'It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj],[n] or [v]. It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky orat the top of the list, but when we awaken in themorning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do wespeak UP, and why are the officers UP for electionand why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polishUP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UPthe kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the oldcar. At other times, this little word has real specialmeaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets,work UP an appetite and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP isspecial. And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UPbecause it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UPat night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP,look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In adesk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of thepage and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list ofthe many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot ofyour time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UPwith a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP.When it rains, it soaks UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on andon, but I'll wrap it UP, for now . . . my time is UP !

Did this one crack you UP?

Don't mess UP. Send this on to everyone you look UPin your address book . . . or not . . . it's UP to you. Now I'll shut UP!

[forwarded by Rev. Chuck Anderson] –MIKEYS FUNNIES

Please pray for thenominating committee

Frank Thompson is chairing this year’s nominatingcommittee of Joe Kent, Mary Lamberth, Bob Latimer,Brenda Lockerman and Paula Smith. Please pray notonly for the committee members but also for theprocess of getting leaders and committees for thecoming church year. Pray that our church memberswill receptive and responsive to the Holy Spirit’sleading.

A survey/questionnaire will be distributed to membersat the church house on July 3. Please complete andreturn to the committee by July 17.

Called conference July 10

After the 7:00 p.m. worship service on July 10, therewill be a brief conference for the purpose of acting onthe proposed bylaw changes concerning a few of thejob descriptions. These changes were presented at theJune conference.

Page 5

Get your money-filledwater bottles in by July 24

Just a reminder about the Girls in Action PureLove/Pure Water project. They distributed waterbottles in May asking they be returned filled withmoney for Pure Love/Pure Water.

This ministry providesmissionaries and the peoplethey serve with cleandrinking water, free fromd i s e a s e - c a u s i n gm i c r o o r g a n i s m s , b yproviding filters and waterpurification equipment at nocost to them. WMUexpanded this ministry in2006 by also granting fundsfor drilling wells in villages

and communities where missionaries serve without aclean water supply and providing assistance withdisaster relief.

You may also make your donation simply by writing“Pure Water, Pure Love” on your check.

Congratulations to Kimberly Godfrey, R.N. andSharon Thompson, R.N. for passing their stateboards!

Iron sharpens iron continued from page 2...

give and take. Not so much in what we believe, but inour convictions and understanding of how toarticulate and defend the beliefs that we hold to.

5. Candid Engagement: Connected to HumbleConsideration is Candid Engagement. Considerationhas to do with hearing what someone else says. ButEngagement, as I am thinking of it, is the process ofresponse. Things have been said to one another thatcould have been taken as mean spirited, demeaning,rude or even insulting had the context been differentor if the audience were of a different composition. Butone of the purposes of getting together is to sharpenone another for the battle that is being waged. It is inthis pointed and sometimes painfully direct processwe are confronted with our own assumptions and areforced to stand or fold. Learning to be candid andloving is a balancing act that can only be learned in asafe and genuine environment.

It is for these reasons and probably a few more that Ihave enjoyed and benefited from our ChurchBasement group. I have come to realize that if I desireto become all that God has promised and prepared forme, some time being sharpened by brothers (andsisters) in the faith is part of the price to be paid to getthere.

And let us consider how we may

spur one anotheron toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together,

as some are in the habit of doing,but let us

encourage one another

and all the more as you seethe Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Page 6

Average nightly attendance

at VBS in June was 85.

See website for more pics.

August 6, 2011; 8:30am–12:00pm$5/person

Sherwood Baptist Church2201 Whispering Pines Road, Albany, GA

Register at www.gabaptist.org

Page 7

Schedule of Volunteers for JulyPlease remember it is up to you to arrange coverage if you are unable to serve on your scheduled day.

Date Flowers Nursery AM Nursery PM Deacon of the Week Ushers

Jul. 3 Elaine Phelps Paula Smith

Rhonda Youngblood

Sharon Thompson Floyd Tucker Mark Peavy

Arthur Roney

Jul. 10 Open Robin & Mark

Peavy

Michelle Kitchens Joe Kent Bob Latimer

Kyle West

Jul. 17 Open Tori & Vicki

Lamberth

Robin Peavy Jimmy Lockerman Clinton Brannen

Ronnie Hatcher

Jul. 24 Open Kim Godfrey

Michelle Kitchens

Paula Smith Arthur Roney Jared Averill

John-John Averill

Jul. 31 Open MK Blankenship

Katrina West

Laura Lamberth Mark Smith Frank Thompson

Matt Youngblood

June Sunday School StatsSenior Adults 10FBIC 10CIA 4VOC 7Young Adults 7Older Youth 06 , 7 & 8 Graders 6th th th

3 , 4 , & 5 Graders 2rd th th

1 & 2 Graders 5st nd

Older Preschoolers 3Younger Preschoolers 7Nursery 2General Officers 2TOTAL 63

Financial $ummary

May receiptsGeneral offerings $10,534.81Special–GA Baptist Children’s Homes 65.00Special–Local benevolence 903.48Special–kitchen stove/hood 101.00Special–Mail Box Club 20.00Memorials 20.00TOTAL 11,644.29

April disbursementsGeneral expenses 10,734.69Painting church building 6,671.00Local benevolence 903.48Local missions 375.00Houston Baptist Association 404.16Cooperative P r o g r a m 1,050.81TOTAL $20,139.14

Byromville Baptist Church713 Patterson Street ` POB 126Byromville, GA 31007www.byromvillebaptistchurch.com478-433-2505Pastor: Andy Blankenship

NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATION

POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 2

BYROMVILLE GA

31007

Blessings is published monthly by Byromville Baptist Church. Send news items and/or comments to Editor Brenda

Lockerman at POB 217, Byromville, GA 31007, email to brendalockerman@windstream.net or call 478-433-2791 .

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Page 8

9:00amPrayerWalklingOur Schools

National PostalWorkers Day

Dog Days begin National FriedChicken Day

National Hotdog Day

8:00amBrotherhoodBreakfast

National IceCream Day

8:00pm ChurchCookout

10:30am W omen

on Mission

2:00pm Birthday

Party at Pinehill

7:00pm EricParker Concertwith supperfollowing

WeeklySchedule

SUNDAY

Sunday School. . . 10AM

W orship. . . . . . . . 11AM

W orship. . . . . . . . . 7PM

W EDNESDAY

Kids/Youth Classes. 6PM

Prayer Meeting. . . . 7PM

Nursery for all services.

Children’s Church for

Sunday 11AM W orship.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24

31

25 26 27 28 29 30

7-1 Kyle Jones

7-3 Angela Jimes

7-4 Dean W oodruff

7-6 W illiam Preston

Kelly W est

Kyle W est

7-7 Suzy Grantham

7-9 Gennette Edwards

7-10 Judy Brinson

Andy Thompson

7-13 Tracey Gregory

7-16 Sally Averill

Ron Everidge

7-16 Sean Payne

7-17 Patricia Rigdon

7-19 Ambrose Lockerman

7-20 Jeanne Musselwhite

7-21 Era Mae Youngblood

7-22 Bud Johnson

7-24 Tori Lamberth

Beau W est

7-25 April Trimback

7-26 Autunm Trimback

7-28 Massey Evans

7-29 John Joles

Cheri Overton

7-30 Jimmy Edwards

8-1 Keagan Cavanah

Brooke Thompson

Sherry W ilkes

8-2 Sue Thompson

8-3 Julie Humphries

Kim Knaggs

Jesse Raper

Please pray for these folks

on their birthday.

1:00pm–6:00pmBlood Drive

Conference

after 7pm

W orship

IndependenceDay