1Feb. 4Church Council

Feb. 10Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Work Day

Feb. 11Deacons Meeting

Feb. 17Daughters of the King

Feb. 18Business Meeting

Feb. 19

Feb. 25RA’s and GA’s February

Fundraiser

the monthly newsletter from Towne North Baptist Church February 2018

The Towne

1Ken Gray,Pastor

Terry Hunt,Worship Leader

JR Velasquez,Youth Director

Eric Pangburn,Sunday School Director

Leah Pittsinger,Presch/Children’s Director

Randy Cross,Deacon Chairman

1February “Favoloso” Fund RaiserSunday, Feb. 25 6:00 p.m.

Come to the RA’s and GA’s Mission Camp Fund Raiser! It will be an evening of entertainment, good food, a silent auction and door prizes. You’ll be served a generous helping of linguine with your choice of sauce – marinara with meatballs, or alfredo chicken – tossed salad and bread. You’ll also get to choose from a large

selection of various desserts. The reservation sign-up sheet will be out Feb. 4. RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE NO LATER

THAN WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21. Cost is $10 for adults - age 10, $5 for children aged 9 - 5, and children under 5 eat free. Payment at

time of reservation is requested.

1The Education Building needs some TLC. On Saturday,

Feb. 10 we’ll be doing a little touch-up

painting, cleaning out light covers, changing a few ceiling tiles, etc. Please come and help!

Coming in March -- Daylight Saving Time begins on March 11. See you at 8:30 a.m. for the Spring Forward Breakfast!

1others and within ourselves. There’s an old adage that says that if we keep doing the thing, we will keep getting the same results.

If we want to see progress in our lives, especially spiritual progress, we just might have to do some-thing different than what we have, or have not beendoing. Let’s get out of the Ground Hog syndrome of day after day, all is the same. The life the Lord has given us, even right here in Denton, Texas, canbe exciting. Endeavor to make each day, week, and year different from the last by seeking God’s will for what He would have us pursuing daily. Our Sunday school classrooms on Sunday mornings are a great place to start. Leave the “Ground Hog Syndrome” behind and come join a class. There’s a placejust for you. See you then!

1From the Youth DirectorJR Velasquez

Renew It

While watching television the other day I came across a program that involved a contest in which an old piece of furniture would be bought and then renewed. As I flipped through the channels I saw that a lot of the programs focused on taking something old and giving it a fresh look. That 1970’s house in its day was the rage of the neighborhood. It had that famous popcorn ceiling, gold shag carpet and that popular colorful cabinetry. Today that house is very outdated and the show proceeded to bring the house up to date. Buying something new is always fun but taking something old and renewing it is amazing. It involves giving new life and purpose to something that was once thought to belong in the dumpster.

You know, the Christian life is like that. Read Ephesians 2:1 - 10. Wow, That Scripture can really preach! Get this – we were all dead in our sins. We were that old, unwanted 1970’s kitchen. But Christ Jesus decided to renew us by His workmanship. By his mercy he took us from our dead and decrepit state and gave us new life. So enjoy that new life and remember that you were renewed for a purpose. Follow Him and let Him show you the Christian purpose in which you were created.

Humbly in his Service, J.R. Velasquez

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

1From the Pastor Ken Gray Greetings in Christ!

“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”. Most of us have heard this question sometime in our life. It means we have a decision to make regardless of what we may or may not want to hear. Now, I wish we could always receive only good news, but the term itself reminds us that some news is not good!

The gospel of Christ – the good news of forgiveness and eternal life through His sacrifice – got me to thinking about some biblical good news, bad news comparisons.

Good Newsin Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . without Christ saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lost receive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . reject faithful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . disobedient light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . darkness life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . death Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hell saint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘ain’t’

Are you in the good news or bad news column?

In Christ,

Ken

1From the Sunday School DirectorEric Pangburn

As we move ahead into February, many writers would tend to mention something relating to Valentine’s Day. I’m going to mention Ground Hog Day. Ground Hog Day, celebrated on the 2nd of February, has its roots in the birth of Christ and later, the presentation of Christ by Simeon in the Temple. It has to do with the Romans, the holiday Candlemas, candles, and a rodent. Look it up and it will all make sense.

You’ve probably seen the movie “GroundHog Day,” with Bill Murray. Do we everget into the rut of feeling like each day is just like so many before? No real mean-ingful accomplishments. As we get older,days turn into weeks, weeks into years.We see the weeks fly by and we are exact-ly where we were before, perhaps still nothaving achieved the satisfaction of know-ing we’ve really made a lasting difference,more importantly, an eternal difference, in the lives of

1Daughters of the King

1We had a great time at the Side Walk Café for our January meeting. Among the topics discussed was hosting various activities, such as day trips, and how the group could minister to our church and community. Please let Beverly know if there is someone in your life that needs encouragement or prayer.

Our next meeting will be held 1at the Egg House Café, 1622 W. University, Suite 100 on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 8:30 a.m. Please RSVP to Beverly at 735-2238 or Trkandbrk@yahoo.com.

RA's (Royal Ambassadors) and GA's (Girls in Action) are mission classes designed specifically for boys and girlsin the 1st - 6th grades. For more information about RA's contact Rick Hilliard (940) 391-1403; for GA's contact Linda Key (254) 223-1552.

1Sunday Services

Bible Study for all ages . . . . . . . . 9:30 a.m.Morning Worship Service . . . . . 10:30 a.m.Adult Choir Rehearsal. . . . . . . . . 5:00 p.m.Youth Choir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 p.m.Evening Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 p.m.

1From the Preschool/Children’s Director Leah Pittsinger

Choosing Courage

I was recently reminded by the Lord that being courageous is much more often a choice than a feeling. When my emotions seem to take over and I’m flooded with doubt, shame, or uncertainty, He patiently helps me rededicate my choices in support of a courageous faith. A faith that makes a difference. A faith that holds unswervingly to the Spirit’s promptings and convictions more than it holds to the opinions of others. A courageous faith that willingly exposes and challenges traditions that do not line up with the word of God. Choosing a courageous faith is certainly not popular, but it is necessary for true growth in the Lord.

And yet I struggle with allowing my children to experience heartache even though I know that God very typically uses sorrow to set the foundation of a courageous faith. (We find no better example than the disciples’ sorrow over Jesus death which was then transformed into amazing, Spirit-led courage after His resurrection.) I know my sons must experience challenges to grow spiritually and physically and to learn reliance on the Lord. And while it kills this mother’s heart, there have been times when the Lord has said, “Back off. [He] is ready to grow even if you are not.” I understand that God wants to build men of courage out of these precious souls, but it will take time, refinement, and – dare I say – pain. And, as a believer and their future sister in Christ, I must have the courage to allow God’s hand on their lives so they too may be granted the room to choose a courageous faith for themselves.

However, if we ourselveshave not chosen couragethen there is no way toencourage it in others. Ifwe never dare to look in-ward and ask, “Why do Iact the way I do?” or “Whydo I believe the way I do?”then we aren’t able to acceptthe life-altering, spiritual growththat God freely offers. The simplefact is we have to willingly place ourselves into something uncomfortable to choose courage. We have to be so grieved by lost souls that we don’t care about the cost of following Christ. That, my friends, is the definition of faithful courage. And only when we are willing to sacrifice everything we have at the foot of the cross will the world begin to see a love it wants to join.

1Wednesday Bible Studies

Children's Choir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 p.m.Mission Friends (preschool). . . . .7:00 p.m.RA’s (1st - 6th grade boys). . . . . . .7:00 p.m.GA’s (1st - 6th grade girls). . . . . . .7:00 p.m.Youth Group . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 7:00 p.m.Adult Bible Study/Prayer time . . .7:00 p.m.