Be A Part of Grey Stone…

Taking Root Class

Have you been attending Grey Stone for several weeks? In the back of your mind, are you thinking, what makes this church tick? What does the church believe? What does it mean to be a member? If some of these questions have come to mind, you are cordially Invited to attend Taking Root with Pastor Clay. This is a class specifically designed for individuals who are praying about making Grey Stone their church home. The 3 part class is taught by Pastor Clay on Wednesday evenings during our regular scheduled service. The next class will start on March 7, and will be held in the parlor. Childcare is also provided during this time. If you would like to take the class, check the appropriate box on the connection card and drop it in the offering plate. You can also e-mail Beverly at Beverly@gsdurham.com or simply call the church office at (286-2281) and request to have your name put on the class list.

Pack Your Bags

Get ready for a Super Summer Adventure (VBS) at Grey Stone June 11-15. This year our campus will be transformed into Sonrise National Park. Our children will take daily treks through the Bible while also enjoying games, crafts, snacks and a backpack full of fun. So grab your bug spray and camping gear and enjoy a week at the Park. Mark your calendars because this is one adventure you do not want to miss.

Take Me Out to the Ball Park

The Children and Youth ministries are sponsoring a Spring outing to the Durham Bulls baseball game on Thursday night May 3. We hope your family will join us for a little baseball, some serious hot dog consumption (it’s dollar night) and hang-ing out together. The ticket cost is only $5 per person. We have a limited num-ber so sign up early by contacting Becky@gsdurham.com.

An Important Note From Pastor Clay

Dear family at Grey Stone, In a few short weeks, we will be prepar-ing for our Easter services. Have you thought about who you could invite this Easter? This year, on Easter, I will begin a new series called, Thirsty. The first message on Easter Sunday will be a message of encouragement that I've written to show how God, through Easter, gives us a chance to have our deepest needs met. It will be a message that clearly pre-sents the hope we can have in Christ. Who of your relatives, neighbors, and co-workers do you want to see come to Christ this Easter? People are more likely to be open to your invitation at Easter than at any other time of year. Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity to invite them to one of our church ser-vices! Here's how you can fulfill your mission at Easter: 1. Ask God to show you who to invite. 2. Be intentional about asking. Two weeks before Easter, we will be providing you with small invite cards

that you can give to your friends.

The card will have the times of our

services and will include a personal invitation to attend.

3. PLEASE set an example and fill out the brief "Spiritual Survey" card we are going to take at Easter during the service - so guests will see you do it and feel comfortable doing it too. 4. Pray that hundreds will commit their lives to Christ this Easter. 6. Greet everyone around you. There will be a lot of first-time guests. Please help them with directions. This Easter we are planning 3 exciting services: 8:45 am: Celebration Service 10:00 am: Elevation Worship 11:15: Celebration Service Thanks for your prayers. I love you and am so grateful to be your pastor. Let's each one reach one this Easter!

Joint Worship Service (Sunday, March 11)

We look forward to having several joint worship services this year. Our first one is scheduled for Sun, March 11. This is a great day when everyone who worships at Grey Stone can come together under one roof to exalt Jesus Christ. The service will be in the Family Life Center. Note the schedule for the day: Life Groups (SS): 9:30a.m. Worship Service: 10:45a.m. (childcare for pre-school and special needs; K-5

th grades will be in the

service)

Memorials

In memory of Tim Browning by Howell class (Legacy); Rebecca Norris by Lydia-Dorcus class (Legacy); Max Matthews by Joy class; Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Reep; Grant Matthews; Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Ferrell; Centre College; Joan & Jack Wheeler; Becky Tilley; Donna Gregorski; Sharon & Shawn Rooney (Legacy).

Honorariums

In honor of Judie & Rollin Burhans by Carol & Jim Barnhill (Lottie Moon)

Our Deepest Sympathy

To the family of Becky Shaw in the loss of her sister, Moline Clements; Doug Sherman in the loss of his Mother; Eleanor Matthews in the loss of her husband, Max Matthews; and to Joan Reese in the loss of her Mother.

Inclement Weather

Inclement weather information regarding church services watch WRAL, WTVD or go to the web-site, www.gsdurham.com.

Volume 15, Number 3

Postmaster: Send address changes to Good News,

Grey Stone Baptist Church, 2601 Hillsborough Road,

Durham, NC 27705-4080

Published monthly by Grey Stone Baptist Church.

Good News (USPS 576-820)

This issue of the Good News was placed with the USPS

February 29, 2012

DATED MATERIAL Please deliver by March 1, 2012

Periodicals

Postage Paid

Durham, NC

USPS 576-820

I Told You So

Words have awesome power to build us up or tear us down emotionally. Many people can clearly remember words of praise their parents spoke years ago. Others can re-member negative, cutting words—in extraor-dinary detail. Communication within the fami-ly is like the body’s circulatory system. When we stop listening to each other, it’s as though the family suffers a stroke. We become disa-bled. Certain members no longer respond to other members.

It is such a lie to think you’ll change your spouse. Expectations are the number-one reason people are not happy. We keep ex-pecting things and people to make us happy.

Explain how you feel in- stead of demanding that your partner improve. Use “I feel” state- ments, but wait for the right time, and aban-don the “you” statements and the “I told you so” statements.

In defeating the arguments and problems that can crop up around any home, try sea-soning each day with a liberal sprinkling of praise: “You’re so smart.” “What a treasure you are!” “That’s so creative!” “I’m praying for you.” “You’re wonderful!” “I’m with you all the way.” “Thank you for all your help.”

How quick we are to pick out the negative while ignoring five equally obvious positives! Unless we’re careful, our body language and facial expressions will tend to minimize our praise while maximizing our criticisms. Make it your goal to praise your mate for some-thing at least once each day.

Other approaches to criticism: Be soft—you can often say the hardest thing to someone, and he or she will receive it if you say it gen-tly. Ask questions—help people discover for

themselves what you’re trying to say. Use those visual word pictures. Communication takes perseverance—and the very strength and courage of God’s Spirit—to replace impatience, insensitivity, and self-preoccupation with loving communication patterns.

It’s crucial that a husband listen to his wife’s thoughts and feelings; even possible correc-tion. Through listening to her, he can learn how to love her as Christ loves the Church, so that their relationship will blossom into the mature marriage God designed. We must let God change and transform us, and bring us happiness. We try to do it externally, but it won’t happen that way.

Many things have to happen if you’re going to agree on major decisions. Norma and I have had to reason together for long periods in order to discover the reasons behind each other’s perspectives. A couple cannot sur-vive if one person always makes decisions independent of the other. It takes longer to make a decision if you insist on discussion that produces unity, but it removes the dan-ger of hasty decisions that can cause a cou-ple future problems in their marriage.

Work to avoid judgmental attitudes like “How stupid!”, “Oh no, that would never work!” or “You’ll never understand!” If you criticize your mate in a condescending manner, you’re actually pushing him or her further away from you. No one enjoys being with a disrespectful person. And no one likes to be criticized. However, if you sandwich your criticism between two slices of sincere praise, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your mate’s reactions.

(*Reprinted with Permission by Gary Smalley Ministries)

January Designated Gifts

Legacy $38,707.50 Second Mile 1,401.00 Senior Adult 125.00 Lottie Moon 300.00 Haiti Mission 750.00 Music Ministry 10.00 College Ministry 1,050.00 Student Ministry 200.00 Children’s Ministry 200.00 India Mission 2,138.00

Triangle Kids Camp

We are currently registering children, first through fifth grade, for the Triangle Kids Camp this summer. The overnight camp experience will take place at Louisburg College in Louisburg, NC on July 5-8. The kids will participate in Bible study, attend great worship sessions and take part in some crazy activities. You can visit the camp website at www.trianglekidscamp. com or for more information contact kevin@gsdurham.com, our children’s pastor.

Grey Stone Kid’s Camp

The Grey Stone Kid’s Summer Camp is now open for registration. We have hosted the premier kids’ camp for over 26 years. Grey Stone Kid’s Camp balances an affordable weekly tuition with a packed daily schedule allowing campers to have summer they are not soon to forget. For more information and to register visit us at www.greystonekidscamp.com.

Life Lesson: We should be willing to serve the Lord in any and all ways. Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for equipping me to serve within Your church. I crave op-portunities to use these gifts You've giv-en me to serve others. Help me to use these gifts faithfully so that leaders in the church will present me with more opportunities to glorify You in ministry. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Upcoming Opportunities to Serve on a Disaster Relief Team! Train to be deployed locally in the com-munity, in North Carolina, or within the domestic USA. The purpose of our Dis-aster Relief Ministry is to relieve human suffering caused by disasters by provid-ing among other things: hot meals, de-bris removal, child care and family as-sistance. We work with various disaster organizations in order to achieve this goal: Baptists on Mission; NC Baptist Men; American Red Cross; The Salva-tion Army; NC Emergency Management; and a variety of groups. Contact Pastor Randall, Mark Dolejs, & John King or go to edugreystone.com for forms and more information.

Based on devotion by D. McGee; Edited for content by

Randall Floyd; Education Pastor

could neglect their study of the Word. In order to teach the people, these men made a great decision. Instead of trying to delegate the order of business among themselves, they presented others with an opportunity. It is important in ministry to delegate and “give away” ministry. God has given each and every one of us gifts in order to serve Him and the body of Christ. The gifts that each of us encompass are a necessary ingredient to the body of be-lievers. Eph 4:11-12, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some proph-ets, some evangelists, and some pas-tors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," NKJV Why not step out and begin serving the Lord in the small things, and watch as larger doors open for you? He is so worthy to be served. Together, we will see God change lives, starting with our own.

Saved To Serve! Read Acts 6:3-4

"Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word." (NLT) In Acts 6, we see how important it be-came for these twelve men to raise up other godly disciples to help in the work of the ministry. God had called these followers of Christ to teach the Bible. In the midst of the grumbling among the believers, a decision had to be made. They could either raise up other godly disciples to help in the work, or they

What are the Steps in Overcoming Addiction?

This article is a review of the answer to a question asked during the “Go Ahead and Ask Series,” which was recently conducted during Wednesday Night Live. I believe it is important enough to reiterate these steps in this article. Why? Because Christians and the Body of Christ at Grey Stone Baptist Church are not immune from the traumatic effects of addiction, whether they are from alcohol, illicit drugs, pornography or food. A simple formula to remember is the 3 A’s – Awareness, Acceptance and Action. First, there is awareness of the problem. This is where the individual and/or family are learn-ing about the nature of an addiction, such as alcoholism. Whether through television, written materials or suggestions from others, there comes a realization that something has become too difficult to control. For example,

a problem drinker may get a DWI and lose their license. This can be an opportunity for a wake up call, since social drinkers don’t get DWI’s. Proverbs 1:5 states, “a wise man will listen and increase in learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance.” The next step is Acceptance, where the indi-vidual finally surrenders their will and ac-cepts help. When someone gets admits their powerlessness over a substance or behavior, half of their problem is solved. This is similar to the emptying of self any new Christian undergoes at the point of re-pentance. As there must be brokenness for sin to become a believer, there must be ac-ceptance of responsibility for the disease of addiction in order to live in the solution. James 4:6 says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” God will honor those who humbly call on Him for help.

Finally, the 3rd A stands for Action. There must be more than an admission and prayer; there is work to be done. Each person must seek help and accountability through a vehi-cle of recovery. This could exist in treat-ment, 12 step recovery programs, or another form of counseling. It is also critical that significant changes occur, such as the peo-ple and places that are associated with the addiction. Friendships and relationships with others are paramount, as God has called us into healthy connections for our own spiritual good. There is strength in numbers. Eccle-siastes 4:12 records “And if someone over-powers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Amen. If you are wondering if you, or a family mem-ber, are suffering from an addiction, please contact Brian at brian@gsdurham.com or 286-2281, x 6616, to schedule a confidential appointment.

Brian Barndt