Pastor's Update

POTLUCK SUPPER AND DON PIPER

Mark Your Calendars Now!
We know of three people, from Scripture, who were privileged to see heaven. All of these men, Stephen and the Apostles Paul and John, were alive when they were given a glimpse of the wonders of heaven. Don Piper, a Baptist pastor, claims to be a fourth, though unlike the other three, he first had to die. Returning home from a conference, Piper’s car was crushed under the wheels of a truck. Medical personnel declared him dead at the scene of the accident. But ninety minutes after this accident, a pastor, waiting at the scene, was told by God to pray for the dead man. He did so, and Piper immediately returned to life. For the 90 minutes that his body lay lifeless inside the car, Piper claims to have been in heaven. He now carries with him memories of paradise and in 90 Minutes in Heaven, a book which has sold over 500,000 copies, he seeks to encourage other Christians with a description of our eternal home. “Because I was able to experience heaven,” he says, “I was able to prepare [friends] for it. And now I am preparing you.”

Reverend Piper will be with us on the evening of January 17th!! It all begins at 6:00 pm.
This is something you won’t want to miss!! Bring a friend!!

Charting Your Course Begins January 18th!

Running Around In Circles? Try Charting Your Course instead! Working step by step in a group of four, you'll recognize your own preferred picture of who God is and how He relates to you. Then you'll create a storyboard of your own life in order to identify your core values and key life lessons. In discussion with a few others and in time alone with God, you'll search out God's vision for your future. The workshop will end with you choosing your next step-that strategic "next action" for you to press forward in the right direction! We will have 3 sessions (January 18, 25 and February 1) from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Childcare is available. For more information, contact Mike Johnson. Come Chart Your Course with us.

HOPE for ONE

We have the opportunity to reach NEW TERRITORY with the message of the Gospel through the gift of music. We are going to professionally record and produce a CD with a mix of Top 40 and Christian songs and mail it out to every residence in New
Territory. There are 4601 homes and 500 apartments. We can reach every home for only $5 per family. What a great and non-threatening way to get into every single family in our immediate area with the message of the Gospel.

We have had some people ask about other areas to reach. Let me assure you, if this is “successful” we will begin to target other ministry areas such as Pecan Grove, Greatwood and River Park. Please help our effort even if you don’t live in New Territory. Everyone can afford to buy for a family, and some of you, maybe a whole neighborhood. Encourage your kids to sponsor a family and make them feel like this is their outreach too. We have designated one of the walls in the worship center as the Wall of Hope. For every family that is sponsored, we will put a card up on the wall that says "Hope for One."

Women’s Retreat

Parkway’s Women’s Ministry is hosting an in house weekend Retreat January 29-30th. Our theme is Tapestry and how friends color the fabric of our lives. “It is our relationships with other women which often bring color and brightness, honesty and security, to our lives.” We will have dinner Friday night followed by a speaker, friends and fellowship. Then on Saturday we will serve breakfast and then a day packed full of topics about Taking Inventory, Prayer and Good Friends, Goal Setting and Silence and Solitude. We hope you will join us. You can register at church on Sundays or register online. If you have any questions contact Debbie Mullen (281-343-7197).

The Lion King

In Mark’s Gospel we hear the story of the Baptism of Jesus. It is a defining moment in His life and the beginning of His ministry. It begins with John the Baptist and ends with the heavens being torn apart. When the heavens are torn apart, a dove descends and a voice speaks, “You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” The report Mark gives us implies that the voice from heaven was more for Jesus to hear than for the crowd.

That day became a day of affirmation and encouragement for Jesus. I wonder if He remembered that day when things got tough for Him. What I love about this affirmation is that it occurs before Jesus has done any preaching or healing or teaching. The affirmation comes before He stood up against any Scribe or Pharisee...before Jesus calls any disciple...before Jesus performs any miracle. But I imagine that Jesus recalled these words as He stood toe-to-toe with the Pharisees...as He sat at the grave of His friend Lazarus...as He stood before Pilate and the Roman soldiers...as He prayed in the Garden...as He hung on a cross...YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED!

Sunday morning, we will remember our baptism. And perhaps today will be a defining moment for you, as you hear an affirmation from God, “You are my beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” These are words we need to hold on to as we begin a Revolution. These are words we need to hold on to as we live Revolutionary lives!

PLEASE EMAIL KATHY YOUR BIRTHDAY, YEAR NOT NEEDED!!