Read the Whole Bible

Hey everyone,

It occurred to me that it would be a good idea to promote a program to help us read through the entire Bible as a church in one year. I have seen several such schedules and Jerry Kern even created one himself.

I am going to work with Jerry's schedule this week to produce a schedule we can post on the blog. I will try to post weekly reminders to check the blog (in the menu on the right) to see what to read this week.

For now, I am including a survey that I'd like you to fill out. Of course, not everyone at Castle is on the blog list, but those of you that are should provide an adequate sample to get a feel for how much of the Bible most of us have read. The question will be on the right if you go to the blog. Just try to answer as honestly as possible by clicking one of the options. It's anonymous, so no one will see what your selection was.

Thanks!

Jason

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

Barbara and Charlie Chapman told me today how much they've appreciated all of our visits to them this week. Castle Christian Church is extremely good at showing love and support for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Everyone has done well at letting the church know through the blog and the online calendar when they'll be visiting. Remember to email me or call me to let me know when you're planning on stopping by. Also, check the calendar to make sure no one else will be visiting that time.

By the way, several have told me that they would be visiting at a non-specific time like "around 10:00." When people do that, I usually mark them down for a whole hour or so, just to let people know it will be around that time. However, since Barbara is still recovering and not always feeling really well, visits of 15-20 minutes are preferrable. So, if I put you down for a whole hour, don't feel pressured to stay for that much time!

Take care!

Jason

Billy Update

Hey Castle kids,

I got an email from Billy Strother again today (Friday). You all remember he was in a motorcycle accident in December. Well, he had his 5th surgery on Wednesday for his new skin graft. He's really hoping that one stays healthy. Let's all agree in prayer for that request!

Also, his knee is healing well. The doctor said 3-5 months and he should be walking on his own again.

See you all on Sunday!

In Christ,

Jason

Sermons on Prayer

From time to time I like to recommend sermons by other preachers which have affected me. One of my favorite preachers is a man by the name of Greg Boyd at Woodland Hills Church in the Minneapolis area. He does not come from a Christian Church background, but I have found him very solid on a lot of things.

He did a short sermon series on prayer from the book of Luke recently. I highly recommend each of the three sermons. The first was called "The Insane Importance of Prayer," the second was, "Scorpions, Eggs, and Prayer," and the third was "Scorpions, Eggs, and Prayer part 2." If you are interested in listening to them, you can find them on this page. You can also subscribe to the podcast here.

These are the best sermons I have ever heard on the topic of prayer. If you get a chance to listen to any of them, I think you would really benefit from them!

In Christ,

Jason

Visit Reminder

Hey everyone,

We've had more people set times for visits with the Chapmans. Remember to check the calender here before you visit to make sure someone else won't already be there!

Thanks!

Jason

Sermon Notes

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder that you can look at my textual notes for the sermons here. This allows you to read the background studies I do on all the texts we study and enables you to do further research on your own if you are interested in that kind of thing. You can also download the notes from the Tuesday Night Bible Study here.

On the Blog and Visit Reminder

Hey everyone! I just want to let you know that you may need to keep an eye on your spam filter. Gmail started sending my emails from Castle Christian Blog to the spam file and I had to mark it "not spam." If you haven't heard from us for a while, check your spam filter.

Also, a few more have listed that they are going to visit the Chapmans this week. Just click this link:

http://www.castlechristian.com/modules/piCal/

and click the number of the date you'd like to visit to see if someone is visiting that day and what time. If your slot is open, let me know and I'll put you on for that time.

Many have commented about the wonderful video we saw on Sunday. Here is the direct link to the post that has the video on it:

http://castlechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2008/02/video-from-sunday-service.html

God bless!

Jason

Check Calender

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder to let us know if you're planning to visit the Chapmans this week. Check the calander at:
http://www.castlechristian.com/modules/piCal/

Later,

Jason

Video from Sunday Service

Hey everyone,

If you are interested in watching the video we saw on Sunday, it's available in this article on the blog. You can just click the title above or go to http://castlechristianchurch.blogspot.com/.




Enjoy!

Jason

Don't Forget

Hey everyone,

Just a quick note to remind everyone to make sure you submit your final nominations for the office of Shepherd and Servant-leader at church tomorrow. There are nomination forms and a box in the back for you to use. Also, you may email nominations to me at jason@castlechristian.com. After next week, the Trustees and I will work on a final list of nominees and present the church with a final ballot. After this we will announce a church vote to finalize our new leadership structure.

Also, don't forget to vote what you think the color of the new sermon series graphic is. Right now we have a three way tie (4 for blue, 4 for grey, and 4 for other). But I know there are more of you with an opinion. Just go to http://castlechristianchurch.blogspot.com to vote.

Last thing, don't forget to let me know if you are planning on visiting Barbara and Charlie Chapman so I can put it on the calender online.

See you on Sunday!

Jason

Decisions!

Hey everyone! Most everyone was in church this Sunday to witness Debbie Hicks coming forward to publicly declare Castle Christian Church her church home. Larry and Susan Deckard also made the same decision on Sunday! What a great day!

We also want you to know that Larry Deckard has agreed to act as Castle's Music Ministry Director. He will be working with our worship team every week, leading and directing our worship ministry. Our worship team was already great, but with Larry helping out, our worship is really running on all cylinders. God has truly blessed our church!

Jason

Why We're Here!

Hey everyone,

Nathan showed us this video of Tori Carpenter's baptism at the Earharts'. I think it's a nice reminder of why we're here!

Enjoy,

Jason

Visit Reminder

Hey everyone! As a show of our love and support, many from our church have gone to visit Barbara Chapman in the hospital and nursing home since her surgery a few weeks ago. She loves and craves visits from ALL of us. The Chapmans greatly appreciate all of our support during this difficult time.

However, Barbara is tired and has been weakened by her ordeal and too many visitors at once can be overwhelming. In order to make sure that several well-meaning Castlers don't visit her all at once, we are asking you to let us know when you plan to visit. If you will email me at jason@castlechristian.com to let me know when you're planning on visiting, I'll mark you down on our online calendar. Please check the calendar to make sure someone isn't already planning to visit at the day and time you are.

Thanks!

Jason

Great Sunday AND New Survey

Hey Castle folks! I just wanted to let everyone know how excited we've been as a family. Especially since Christmas, Sunday mornings have been more and more encouraging. Things are really coming together for us. People are visiting and coming back; they're getting excited about what God is doing at our church. What an exciting time!

That being said, we did have a little harmless controversy today--namely the disagreement over the color of the background for our new sermon series, "The New Insiders." If you remember, when I showed the new graphic, I stated that it was blue, but I was quickly corrected. Some people thought it looked grey. Well, I'm tossed up. I had thought it was blue, but I've decided that I can't decide.

So, I'm putting it up for a vote. I've added a survey on the Castle Christian Blog, which you can go to by clicking on the words "Castle Christian Blog" or by clicking on the graphic to the right. When the blog opens, look to the right to take the survey. I'll announce the winner next Sunday.

Later!

Jason

Nathan Needs Help

Hey guys, Nathan here, and I am asking for a huge favor from our Castle family.

I need mirrors, lots of mirrors.

Our Student Ministry (212) has started a new series on Wednesday nights talking about sex and relationships called "The Power of Sex". This Wednesday night we are going to be dealing with girls and the image that world tries to tell them they should become. I need your mirrors to create a dramatic effect and meaningful point for our jr high and sr high girls. Would you be willing to let us borrow any size mirror that you may have in your home for a week to accompish this?

If you are willing, please put your name on a piece of tape on the back of the mirror and bring them to church either tomorrow (Sunday 2-10) or to the Tuesday night Bible Study (2-12). Then you can pick them up next Sunday after church at our bake sale that supports our student ministry trips (Sunday 2-17).

Thanks guys, your support is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me ( nathan@thepointofchange.com ) or call me at 770-500-4337.

Thanks again,

Nathan

Nominations Reminder

Hey everyone--just want to remind you that we will be taking nominations for Shepherds and Servant-leaders this Sunday and all next week. Please take a moment to grab a ballot in the back of the church on Sunday to read the information. You may also email nominations to me at jason@castlechristian.com.

Later!

Jason

New Sermon Series

Well, this Sunday (Feb 10) I'll be drawing our series on 1 Timothy called "Being the Community of God" to a close. This was a series we started clear back in September! I know I can't speak for everyone but I have to admit that I've really benefited from our in-depth study of this letter.

The sermons are all available for download through our podcast or you can listen to streaming audio online. I'm also considering putting together a set of CDs of he sermons if people are interested and I've been working on writing them out in a book for publishing to our church.

That being said, next Sunday, February 17, marks the beginning of our new series through the book of Ephesians. This series is called "The New Insiders." I'm already excited to begin studying this very imporant letter.

Don't forget about our continuing study of Hebrews which takes place on Tuesday nights at 7:00. We've been really taking our time going through it and, as someone said last Tuesday, the Bible never disappoints us for truth and topics of discussion. Feel free to download copies of the presentation and handout material here.

Take care and God bless!

Jason

Jan Abernathy Update

Many of you know that Jan Abernathy was scheduled for a surgery for her kidney stone this week. I just received news that it went better than expected and that she should be home in a few hours!

Praise God for His mercy!

Jason

Softball

Hey everyone!

Tricia and Mike Earhart have been working hard on putting together a co-ed softball team. The games will start in March and will be played on Mondays. This should be a lot of fun, but we need people to sign up right away. Contact me at jason@castlechristian.com if you are interested and I will forward your message on to Tricia.

Shepherd and Servant-leader Nominations

Hey everyone. On February 3, I announced that ballots were available to nominate people for the position of Shepherd, or Elder, and Servant-leader, or Deacon. There are a few things I forgot to mention, though.

First, we are going to allow a few weeks for nominations. This way you have some time to think and pray about names you think should be involved in our church leadership.

Second, after we have collected all the nominees, we will put together a list which the church will vote on in a meeting to be announced at a later time.

Third, please read the back of the ballots for details on the system.

Fourth, you may email me nominations at jason@castlechristian.com.

That's all I can think of for now!

Later,

Jason