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Year
End Giving
Notes:
Happy
2012. Can you believe how time flies? Someone asked how
old my son was the other day. My answer was "My baby is almost
25". I guess I need to stop calling him my baby. Hmmm,
maybe....
Like last year we will have your
year-end giving statements available at the Ramada towards the end of the
month. We love saving postage this way. The quarterly meeting
is scheduled for January 29th at 6 pm. If you have never
come to a quarterly meeting, please come to this one. We provide
you with a full annual financial statement and vote on the new 2012
budget. It is important that you know how your tithes and offerings
are spend.
Here are a few notes on
giving: If you want to give to more than one area (i.e., general,
building fund, deacon fund, children's ministry, youth, missions, etc)
you can certainly just give one check. Put your designation on the
check memo. You can give by cash (please fill out an envelope for
credit), by check or by automatic deduction.
Your
donation is tax deductible as long as it is not to an individual.
Checks for Alfonso Rodriguez and Tom Navarro are not tax
deductible. If you want to support a missionary please list
the organization they are with (example; MAF (Lundholm), Avant Ministries
(Haddad), Global Training Network (Baugh), etc). We remit our
checks to the organizations and not the individuals. You may list
Ukraine or Mexico Mission for the group and the funds will be held until
they are needed. You may designate Monday Night Dinner,
Youth Camps, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry and these funds will be
held for those specific areas of ministry.
If
at any time you have any questions regarding your tithes, gifts and
offerings, please feel free to give me a call to stop by the
office. I am available anytime to help. Thank you for
blessing Mountain Bible Church financially and to all of you who serve
with your time, God Bless.
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Thank You
The MBC Staff wants to thank
EVERYONE that made our Christmas Eve Services a huge success!
Thanks for serving, making and
bringing food, cookies and dessert! (Best cooks in Arizona!!!)
Thanks for caroling, and
greeting... for stoking the fire... for bringing and taking care of the
animals,
for helping with parking... for
being so friendly to our guests!!!!! For wearing your beautiful
Christmas attire!!!
It was a blessed night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much!
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Jana's
Jovial Joke
A sweet
grandmother telephoned Mount Sinai Hospital.
She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell
me how a patient is doing?"
The operator said "I'll be glad to help, Dear. What's the name and
room number?"
The grandmother in her weak tremulous voice said, "Holly Finkel,
room 302."
The Operator replied, "Let me check. Oh, good news. Her records say
that Holly is doing very well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work
just came back as normal and her physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her
to be discharged Tuesday."
The Grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful! I was so
worried! God bless you for the good news."
The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Holly your
mother?"
The Grandmother said, "No, I'm Holly Finkel in 302. No one tells me
anything!"
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Thank God I'm Free!
 Freedom! It's a beautiful word...and an even
more beautiful concept. Sadly, relatively few people truly
understand the depth of its value, and most spend their lives
propagating activities that lead to bondage and pain instead of peace
and freedom.
There are two prominent forms
of freedom. Of course there is physical freedom; freedom from being
bodily constrained and forced into specific activities beyond one's
personal will or choice. Secondly, and more important, is
spiritual/emotional freedom. This second category is superior for two
reasons: First, one can be physically free, but still live day to day
in the internal slavery of spiritual and emotional issues.
Conversely, one can be physically enslaved, and yet enjoy an internal
freedom and peace that no other human being can steal away.
Holocaust survivor and psychologist Viktor Frankl put it
this way: "Everything can be taken from a man or a woman
but one thing: the last of human freedoms is to choose one's attitude
in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way".
Where do we get the power to choose to live in
spiritual freedom, in spite of the most horrendous external
circumstances imaginable? The apostle Paul, in his letter
to the Roman Christians, put it this way:
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for
the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16 (NIV)
Pastor Bill Hybels is known for
passionately communicating the following phrase on a regular basis in
his speaking and writing: "The church of Jesus Christ is the
hope of the world!" I believe he is right...with one caveat:
"The church of Jesus Christ, consistently and creatively
sharing the gospel message, is the hope of the world".
After pastoring full time for nearly twenty two years and interacting
with scores of people, I've come to realize that one thing is most
important to human beings above all else: the ability to live
life enjoying the spiritual peace and freedom that comes from a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Why?
Because the church of Christ possesses a supernatural message that,
alone, can transform the life and future of even the most desperate and
hardened.
Earlier this week at the Deacon's meeting, I asked
the following question of our board: "Why did God leave us here
on earth after salvation? If it was for the purpose of simply
loving and serving one another, couldn't we do that even better in
heaven? Instead, Christ's final words on earth suggested another
primarily purpose for Christ leaving us here after salvation: "Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk.
16:15). In other words, we are left here to be active witnesses of
the life-transforming power of the gospel, because Christ's gospel sets
people free - physically, emotionally and spiritually - in a way that
nothing else can.
This coming Sunday, I will be presenting a new
vision statement for our church that will guide our ministry into the
foreseeable future. The bulls-eye of this new statement is the concept
of spiritual FREEDOM. Our heart-level commitment to this new
vision has the potential to take Mountain Bible Church to a place of
spiritual effectiveness that we could have never expected or dreamed
possible. The reason? The gospel of Jesus Christ, the
centerpiece of scripture, is the POWER of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes - to the Jew first, and then to the
Gentile. I'll look forward to telling you more this coming Sunday!
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Alpha Course coming to Payson
 Alpha
begins on Monday, January 30th, 5:30 pm (Eat) 6:30 pm (Class)
Sign up in the
Ramada on Sundays
www.alphausa.org
What
Is Alpha?
Alpha
is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly
setting. The Alpha course usually meets once per week for 10 weeks, and
includes an amazing one-day or weekend getaway. Each session, people
enjoy great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly
atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or
too hostile...questions like-Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I
come from? Where am I going?
Who Is Alpha For?
Alpha
is for anyone...anyone who thinks there may be more to life than meets
the eye.
People attend from all backgrounds, religions, and viewpoints. They
come to investigate questions about the existence of God, the purpose
of life, the afterlife, the claims of Jesus and more. Some people want
to get beyond religion and find a relationship with God that really
changes life. Others come for the close, long-lasting friendships that
are built during the Alpha course.
Many guests have never been to church, others may have attended church
occasionally but feel they have never really understood the basics of
the Christian faith. Everyone is welcome.
How Much Will It
Cost?
There is no charge for attending the Alpha course.
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 From Pastor Kraig
Celebrate Recovery
This new ministry will start February 27th at
6:30 in building C. This recovery program is for all
addictions. You may come and have dinner at 5:30. If you
have questions or would like to be involved in helping please contact
pastor Kraig
Estate Planning Seminar February 25th at 10:00 am in building C.
Mountain Bible will be hosting an estate planning
seminar. This is a Christian based seminar. The seminar is
free. You may be asking, who needs an estate plan? The
answer is you. Whether your estate is large or small, you should
designate someone to manage your assets and make health care decisions
for you if you ever become unable to do so for yourself. A living
trust along with Power of Attorney will help assure you that your
desires are met. After the seminar if you need legal help Alpha
Omega has Christian attorney's available to assist you in making a
trust and getting power of attorney papers in order. This seminar
will answer questions. If your assets are in order you can avoid
probate and heartache for your family. I highly recommend
attending this seminar. Pastor Kraig
Men's Breakfast
Our men's breakfast will be on January 27th at
6:15 in building C. We will continue our study on the life of
David. Come out and have a splendid breakfast followed by worship
and some time in the Word.
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Crown Financial Ministry
 Financial Freedom! It is possible, but there are no
shortcuts only proven principles which come straight from God's
Word. Crown Financial Ministry is an international ministry that
has developed a comprehensive program to train people of all ages to
apply financial principles from the bible. Mountain Bible has
been using this resource for the past 8 + years to change peoples
perspective on money resulting in changed lives - often too achieve
financial freedom.
This is a 10 week intensive
course requiring some effort & action but well worth it. Watch for
the sign-up table on January 22nd and 29th.
Norm Liesener
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Women's Ministry--Bible Studies
Kick Off
January 19th 9 am Winter/Spring Women's Bible
Studies Kick Off Building C 100. Come enjoy a community time
together and meet your Bible Study Leaders for the upcoming
semester.
Put on your calender now these other upcoming
events: Girl Time Gathering February 23rd 4 - 9 pm and Women's
Retreat May 4th -6th.
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Children's Ministry Starting New Series
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 Adventureland
Now Featuring
JONAH
A Reluctant Believer
Starting January 8th
8:45am and 10am.
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Dear
Girls and Boys,
You know what? You can't hide from God -
even in a WHALE!
That's what JONAH
tried to do.
But why?
Because he just didn't "get it."
JONAHdidn't "get" God's
important message in this story.
Come to Sunday school and catch
an important message from GOD....for YOU
and EVERYONE.
 CATCH
OF THE DAY
Catch each one of these fish each Sunday
you attend. Each fish has an important message from God for living each
day. Collect all six on a key ring. Later, attach it to your school
bag. Share God's message with friends.
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