Through My Eyes...hanging with the Jetts!

Summer is already almost over! (Well, for me anyway.) This past week was a little thing I like to call VBS. I have been going to VBS since I was really little. I even have a certificate from when I was only a few months old saying I went to VBS! My summer has been great, starting with BigStuf and I’m ending it with a week of Lake Aurora with my best friend, Miya. 

A few days ago, Bethany Jett invited me over to her house for wings. I said yes. (Of course, I couldn’t pass on wings…) It was basically my first time going over to Bethany’s house as a “Youth Groupie.” I went over there, and I thought it was going to be a lot of people. I walked in and Jedidiah and Josiah were eating while watching Jeremy play Lego Batman on this gigantic screen TV. The Jett boys are all boy...all I can say. They are probably the cutest, squirmiest kids on the planet. So, since Sean, Kagan, and Justin were playing video games, I took the opportunity to play with them. Jedidiah and I played for a while, then Jeremy came in, and little Josey walked in, too. I walked out when Bethany put the kids to bed. Justin, Sean, and Kagan went to get the wings when Janine walked in. Bethany, Natalie, and I were playing a game of Hand and Foot. We squeezed Janine in and played for about another 15 minutes. When the wings came, they were in a big tin basket, almost the length of an oven. They were pretty good wings! We watched a show called Psych. It’s about this dude who pretends to be psychic to solve crimes for the local police. I stayed till about 11 p.m. I had a lot of fun, so I hope I can go over again.

Through my eyes…..I loved going over to the Jett’s house.

                                                                      Abby J

The Golden Years

It all began at a very early age, I think somewhere between 9 and 11. That was when I took my first job selling newspaper subscriptions, then in the fifth grade I bought produce from my neighbor who had a farm, taking the produce in my wagon around the neighborhood and reselling the vegetables and fruit.  In May of 2007 it began to come to fruition.  That is when I turned 59 ½ and the government let me do with my 401k investments as I wanted without penalty.  Then in November of 2009 I hit the magic number of 62 and became SSE (social security eligible).  I put in my paperwork to retire on June 30^th 2010, choosing this date since the company I worked for was changing, reducing and just messing with our retirement money on July 1^st 2010.  Had I known that I was/am this good at doing nothing, I would have planned my retirement much, much sooner.  I say that in jest, as it now seems that I need to return to work just to take a break.  I never had this much going on when I was working and now do not know how I find the time to keep it all going.  God has blessed Kate and I with enough of what we need that we can do many of the things we want to do and because He has blessed Kate with a good paying job that we Pray she can keep till she can retire in April of 2013.  I would urge anyone who reads this (regardless of your age) to attend one of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University courses, I promise you that it will make a great positive difference in your financial situation and the way you handle your finances.  Just as when I worked Monday through Friday and took Saturday off and used Sunday to worship our Lord, I still do the same thing in retirement with a few exceptions.  I now cut some of my neighbors yards during the grass growing season to pick up some extra spending cash, my grand kids spend much of the summer with us and I take them to the water park Monday through Friday (adventure island has a summer pass that is $50.00 and the kids can go every Monday through Friday), we still go to the airport and park on the top level (first hour is free) and watch the planes takeoff and land, riding the long term trolley as a small train going nowhere and then go to the third floor and have breakfast and visit some of the shops.  One of the most special things I get to do now (again, I would urge any and all of you who can, to do this as often as you can) is work for the Church on Tuesday afternoon.  While the Church staff is in their weekly meeting, I get to update some of the reports, prepare drive-in service bulletins, answer the phones and anything else Shirley will let me do.  My Prayer every Tuesday morning is that my work at and for the Church will make my Lord smile (Having done some stupid things before that is not a far reach if He is watching me).  I think sometimes when it sounds like thunder outside, it is really the Lord laughing at me or something I did or said.  I am also able to devote more time to our Missions Program at NBCC and to more easily go when we have trips planned.  One of the more personal things I am able to do in my retirement is read those books I was not able to during my working years.  One last story for you about my retirement.  We do not always have a weekly income  and for decades I have been accustomed to tithing on a weekly basis, not too long back I had no income for the week and could not bear the thought of not writing a tithe check, so I wrote one (my concern was for breaking my habit, since we had plenty of money in the bank to cover the check) and put it in my envelope and went to Church as usual to do my 8:00 AM greeting and pass out bulletins.  In walked two of my favorite people and he handed me a CASH for three times the amount of my tithe to help me pay for the missions trip I was going on.  AIN’T GOD GREAT?!!!!! 

John Hartley

elder 

Krisitan's Kaleidoscope: North American, Microphones & Crazy Kids (Installment 10)

For those of you who were wondering where your ministers were this past week. We were at the North AmericanChristian Convention, and it was incredible! The convention was held in Orlando at the World Marriott hotel. The convention was a week long and consisted of two main sessions a day with several classes to choose from in between. While there, we got to hear such speakers as Rick Warren, author of Purpose Driven life, Bob Russell, and Christian comedian Chonda Pierce. The theme for this year was Refreshed, and that’s what we got, refreshed and renewed in the Lord. I have to say out of all the great speakers and classes my favorite part of the trip was getting to spend time with the staff that went. We had a blast together! We even volunteered to help count offering for the NACC, and that’s were we had some of the best times. All who went to the NACC were truly blessed!

Well, I hope you were at the ten-thirty service this Sunday because I got the chance to preach. What an experience and opportunity it is to preach the word of God! I just thank everyone here at NBCC for letting me get the chance to speak. I truly love preaching the word of God.  I preach again at all services on the 29^th so no excuses as to why you cant hear me then. And for all those wondering this time I will check the microphone before I get on stage. For the record, I just want to say I did turn the mic on; it just didn’t work. So not my fault, but all in all I had a great time up there, and I thank you for all your support. I just want to say that I really love speaking here at NBCC and being with you all and the reason is, I feel so loved here. I am not so scared to mess up when I preach, and I don’t get so nervous because I know no matter what, at the end of the day, you all love and care for me.

By the way, last night was our first night of Vacation Bible School, and it went great. The kids are learning about God on Promise Island, while here great stories, and doing fun activates. I ask you all to be in prayer for VBS, please pray that God will plant a seed in these kids so that it may one day grow into a beautiful tree of the knowledge of God. Oh, and I ask that you will as well keep those helping out at VBS in your prayers because kids are crazy, they have more energy than they know what to do with. 

Kristian Beasley

Ministry Intern

Through My Eyes...Friends

Hey, everyone! This past 2 weeks, I was in Leesburg! It’s a little town near Orlando where my grandparents are renting a house for a bit.

Today, I want to talk about my friends. God has given me so many new friends by switching schools. I appreciate them so very much and love them all. We made a little group on Facebook so we can stay in touch. (Most of my friends live in North Tampa or some where in the middle. Not very close to where I live!) My church friends I’ve known for the past 6 years and love them also. Most of you do know them. They are all very valuable to me. We have all laughed together, and that’s my favorite part. J I was gladly dubbed the funny girl this year at school, cracking jokes and making my friends and I all laugh till, sometimes, our sides hurt. Just like my father that makes all of you laugh. (Secret Sights: If he wasn’t teaching or a minister, he would like to be a stand up comedian.) So I was invited to parties and had fun at all of them. It was bittersweet when we all left. I cried when my teacher wrote me a letter on how great I was. I didn’t cry when I left my friends, because I knew we were going to stay in touch though the summer and that most of them were going to middle school with me next year. I know it’s not normal for a girl like me to say this, but im excited for school to start again. I get to see all my friends. I am new to middle school curriculum and up to the challenge. I’ll have all my friends to cheer me on.
Through My Eyes...friends are important to me and they always will be.

    Abby B J 

Kristian's Kaleidoscope: Installment 9

This last week, I had the privilege of visiting with one of NBCC’s finest members just for fun. It was a great joy to my life, and I hope they enjoyed the company as well. Not all the time but most of the time, I believe God gives us great joy when we are conversing and growing closer to other people. It is amazing how great a feeling you get when you receive a new friend. I was blessed this week in the same way when I got a chance to just kick back and talk one on one with a long time member here. I hope that person knows what a blessing that was for me. For those of you who do not yet know, I have been taking over Troy’s college and career class (C2) this summer. While we have been studying the Psalms, many great questions have been asked and answered, but last Sunday, I asked a really tough question and all of the students and myself really enjoyed talking about this topic. So here it is “Does God answer the prayers of a nonbeliever?” I would love to hear what you have to say on the matter. If you want, you can e-mail me at kristian.beasley@johnsonu.edu or talk to me at church about any information you would like to discuss concerning the question. Some verses on the topic are John 9:31, James 5:16, and Psalms 34:17. 
I hope you are ready to here your intern preach again! This coming Sunday, I will be preach in the 10:30 service. I know I lot of you have been asking lately when and where I will preach. So don’t miss it! It’s going to be a good one.
Also this week, most of your NBCC staff will be going to the North American Christian Convention. Please be in prayer for us this week; pray that God allows us to grow deeper in the Spirit and the Word as we are filled up and renewed by great preachers and evangelist from around the world. Though some of you might want to be in prayer for Sara Sharp and Shirley Wentzel as they hold down the fort while were gone having fun. This will be a great change of scenery for us, and I can’t wait to get in the hot tub at the hotel. I told Troy that I am only bringing two things my Bible and my swim suit. However, all playing aside I really want to grow close to God this week and straighten out a few things in my life. I hope that I get a chance to grow deeper spiritually and intellectually while at the NACC.

Kristian Beasley
Ministry Intern

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Kristian's Kaleidoscope: Installment 8

GET READY TO HAVE YOUR CAR WASHED!!!!!! This Saturday from 9am-2pm the C2 (college and career) class is having a fundraiser car wash at the church. I was looking at some of your cars last Sunday, and I noticed how filthy they were so come on down to NBCC and have’em washed for a good cause.  Also, coming up is VBS! Be ready to have some fun in the sun! VBS starts Monday the 16th- Thursday the 19^th.  Our theme this year is Adventures on Promise Island. We will teach kids what God what He promises to us. 

Well, for those of you keeping count it’s week number 8 for me. I am still loving it here at NBCC, and I still like most of you. Just kidding! I love you all, and I thank each and every one of you for making this internship so great. This past week was kind of crazy with three funeral services Thursday till Saturday. Then, with all the rain we had, I thought for a day or two we might have to build an ark like Noah. However, I hope you all stayed dry this last week. I know Bayshore was completely flooded and going down to south Tampa, I needed a raft not a car. I did see a sign posted on a church billboard on my wet way to work that read, “If you prayed for the rain, you can stop now.” I found it quit clever.

I learned a valuable lesson this week, that ministry is always full time whether you’re a part-time intern or a full-time senior minister. God’s work never stops. The kingdom of God doesn’t take a day off, I now realize.  Just because I am tired does not mean there are not people who need to be saved. God has called each of us to live a life that serves and glorifies Him and this is not depicted on our time but His. In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” We must at all times be ready to serve God even if it means giving up our day off or losing time we could be at home. Being a Christian does not qualify you for a comfortable, cushy life but rather the opposite.  It calls for a life that faces hardships and endures for Christ sake. So remember, God wants us to have fun and calls us to relax but to always be ready to act. You could say we are called to be God’s firemen.

Kristian Beasley

Ministry Intern

            Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plansI have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Through My Eyes...Appetites

At BigStuf, one of the discussions with Andy Stanley was about appetites. Appetites are something that all of us deal with. Appetites, yes, can be for food, or it can be for many other things (being the best at everything, love, friends, ect.) Andy says that (and I quote) appetites will “determine the direction and quality of your life. In fact, it will determine the quality and direction of your life even more than your theology.” Of course, I think he has a point. I think that appetites are for something that we desire so much, but it often spins slowly out of control. Andy talks about how we should take control of your appetites because if you don’t rule them, they will rule you. Appetites are desires. I know this is a short blog, but it gives you a whole lot to think about. What are your appetites? Are they controling you? The live stream is still up if you want to check it out.

Through my eyes...appetites are something you can rule or else they will rule you. 

Abby B.