News -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

From the Hillcrest Beacon ( December 29, 2008 )...

Weekly Updates from the Church Staff:
From the Pastor
Music/Administration
Education
College/Career
Youth
Children

Information:
Attendance/Giving
Deacon/Yokefellow on Call
Van Driver
Greeters

From the Pastor

– Tom Goodman

"A New Year to Climb Higher"

At 85, legendary Fred Beckey is still planning ascents. His intensity should inspire us all, because we're all called upward.

The New York Times described Beckey as a legend in the mountaineering world. In seven decades, he's claimed more virgin ascents than any other living climber, and has ascended peaks deemed unclimbable by other experts. At 31, he scaled Mounts McKinley, Hunter, and Deborah in the Alaska Range in a single summer, and the feat became known as his Triple Crown. At 40, he logged 26 first ascents in a single year. He's put up new routes across Wyoming, Colorado, California, British Columbia, and Alaska.

Now 85, he's still looking for the next challenge. To complete his opus, he wants to chart new routes up Mount Monarch in the Coast Range, Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, and Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies.

As I said, his devotion should inspire us all, because we all have a climb to make. At Hillcrest, we call it out H.I.L.L. to crest:

Honor the Lord of Life
Invite Your World to Life
Love the Fellowship for Life
Live the Word in Life

Don't think of these as tasks we only do at church. This is the path for anyone who wants to know fulfillment. Wherever you are—at work, at school, on vacation, in the hospital—your job is to HONOR God's Name, INVITE others to God's Grace, LOVE God's People, and LIVE God's Word. That's the H.I.L.L. set before us.

As you turn the calendar page to 2009, make a fresh commitment to be a faithful climber. Your church exists to give you the training and encouragement to take the summit. While gaining the help you need, also look for others who could use inspiration from you as they make their own ascent.

In the Swiss Alps, there is an epitaph on a tombstone for a Swiss guide: "He died climbing." It looks like that's going to be the way people remember 85-year-old Fred Beckey. Make it true of you, too!

Music / Administration

– Gene Chappell

On Wednesday, January 7, we will be discussing going to one service during a special called business meeting. I have found, over the years, that there are sometimes two opposing thought processes that go on within me. Those of you who know me well, know that I have an opinion – or can pretty quickly come up with one – on most any subject; and I value my opinions quite highly! I am well in touch with this part of my thinking.

As I go to the Lord in prayer, most of the time I share my thoughts and opinions with Him and ask Him to bring those things about. As I have thought through them and have usually decided on a pretty good answer, I just need His help with getting it done. However, when I also have the attitude that Jesus displayed in the garden, "never the less, not my will but thine be done," I find that in His wisdom, He doesn't always agree with me. It is those times that test my commitment and submission to Him, but I also find that His promise of His grace being sufficient is true, and His way is better.

Pray that we will determine His will as we go through this process.

Education

– Herb Ingram

"David also said to Solomon his son, `be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work.'" — 1 Chronicles 28:20-21a (NIV)

Are you ready to work? 2009 is here, and there is a resolution to be made. David encouraged Solomon to "be strong and courageous, and do the work." He forbade the choice of being "afraid and discouraged." We have a choice in 2009. Which will it be for you? Are you ready to work, using your skills, talents, and gifts in building God's kingdom? Don't allow fear or discouragement to keep you sidelined in 2009. Begin by INVITE-ing your world to life January 25 for the "Winning Ways" banquet.

Deep Thought: The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

College / Career

– Courtney Carlson

I love Christmas carols. I can remember singing them when I was a little girl and still enjoy singing them today. But with so many songs flooding the season, I wonder if at times they lose their meaning? I was thinking about one of my favorite carols, "Go Tell it On the Mountain", you know the words:

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

The birth of Jesus makes us want to shout the Good News of the gospel everywhere and to everyone. I can only imagine what the shepherds thought that night so long ago. I am sure that they definitely told of what they saw over the hills and everywhere. I am just wondering... when was the last time we did the same thing? We have experienced a great miracle, too. I hope that this Christmas season we are proclaiming it loud and clear to our world! So "Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ IS born!"

Youth

– Jim Siegel

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas… I know I did. It has been great to have my son (Tim) and daughter (Tiffany) home for the holidays. My oldest daughter (Tara) came in during the Thanksgiving break, so we've had all the kids home for the holidays.

In case you haven't heard it from your students yet, we have moved our weekly student worship time, Rock Solid, to Sunday evenings at 5:30pm. This will enable us to meet during the church HILL time and leave Wednesday evenings open. Hopefully, we will be able to see more of our Sunday morning students return for student worship in the evening.

Our first series begins on January 4. We will talk about how to make 2009 your greatest year ever. Each week we will discuss a personal discipline that is essential if you want to reach your spiritual potential. Make it a "resolution" to join us on Sunday nights!

Finally, Happy New Year to all of you and your families!

Awaiting the Shout,

Children

– Karen Raulie

This week's lesson in our "Get Ready for Christmas" curriculum centered on the word "SEEK." The memory verse we learned was Isaiah 55:6 – "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near." The lesson challenged the kids to write down three things they wanted to know about God. They are to take their list and SEEK the answers from Scripture, parents, teachers, leaders, etc.

The word "seek" is a verb and requires action. According to Dictionary.com, seek means "to go in search of." The Scripture is calling us to go and search for God. Are we seeking Him? Are we taking the action necessary to search for Him?

As we come upon the beginning of a new year, what things would you like to know about God? Write down three things this week and then take action. Go search the Scriptures, talk to teachers, or ask leaders. Is there a better way to start this new year?