Awana kids had fun with hula hoops at game time.

Janice Dailey, Martha Johnson & Barb Hopkins “light” up the church with their string of lights.

The beauty of our sanctuary at Christmas.

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First Baptist Church of Galva 211 NW 4th Avenue Galva, IL 61434

January, 2019

First Baptist Church

of Galva Phone: 309-932-2713

firstbaptist.galva@hotmail.com

www.galvabaptistchurch.com

Donald Reul, Pastor

Pat Koga, Associate Pastor

Sunday Services Praise………………….…8:30 AM

Sunday School……...…..9:45 AM

Worship Service……….11:00 AM

Children’s Church……..11:00 AM

Thursdays Awana……………...…….5:15 PM

Adult Bible Study………..5:45 PM

The Baptist Beacon is a monthly publication of the First Baptist Church of Galva,

Pam Konstanty, Editor

Great Thoughts for the New Year

Getting a Fresh S.T.A.R.T. in the New Year

Stop Making Excuses – Proverbs

28:13 – A man who refuses to ad-mit his mistakes can never be suc-

cessful. But if he confesses and for-sakes them, he gets another

chance. (The Living Bible)

Take an Inventory of Your Life – 2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine your-

selves as to whether you are in the faith.

Act in Faith – Matthew 9:29 – According to your faith let it be to you.

Refocus – Philippians 3:13 – …but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching

forward to those things which are ahead…

Trust – Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all

your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct

your paths. (This acrostic was developed by Rev. Jim Mooney)

From the Pastor’s desk…

Here’s some good solid advice for making the New Year better…. (1)Be careful (2) Be thoughtful

(3) Be thankful

Bob was at a New Year’s party when he turns to his friend, Bill and asks for a cigarette. “I thought you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking," Bill responds.

“I’m in the process of quitting,” replies Bob with a grin. “Right now, I am in the middle of phase one.” “Phase one?”…. “Yeah," laughs Pete, “I’ve quit buying.”

The Top 10 New Year’s resolutions are:

1- Spend more time with family and friends.

2- Fit in fitness. (take care of your health - exercise)

3- Tame the bulge. (Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight)

4- Quit smoking. (On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good)

5- Enjoy life more. (sounds good)

6- Quit drinking. (no problem for me)

7- Get out of debt. (You won’t do it in a year. It will take some planning and some saying “no” to

yourself and others)

8 - Learn something new. (I say, “Why?” I’ve got enough to do without taking on something else)

9 - Help others. (How quaint! That’s thinking of someone else for a change… instead of ourselves)

10 - Get organized. (Some might say, “I never have…. Why start now?”)

I was talking to another preacher on a Thursday afternoon (a while back) and asked him… “What

are you going to preach this next Sunday?”. He turned to me and said, “I don’t know yet…I’m wait-

ing for the ‘right mood’ to come over me, so I can figure that out”.

That’s poor planning! I’ve heard it said that if you fail to plan then you plan to fail!

Did you notice that these top 10 resolutions had nothing to do with spiritual improvement? Or hav-

ing God included in anyway?

That’s the way it is with many people. They don’t include God or Christ in the picture of how they

live their lives.

Let me suggest to you… the Lord should be included in every aspect of your life: marriage, family, children, work, play and pleasure, etc.

A while back….Donny Osmond was declared the champion of "Dancing with Stars," taking home

the show’s mirror ball trophy in the season finale of the ABC contest reality program.

Donny Osmond, the former teen pop star of the singing Osmond family, said the show has been a

highlight in a career of ups and downs.

"I did it!" Osmond exclaimed.

He promptly rushed to the audience and plucked out his wife, Debbie, whom he carried across the

stage. Then he said, “BUT THERE IS SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER. And that’s being a

winner in the eyes of God.”

That, my Brothers & Sisters….hits the nail on the head! (Continued)

Wednesday, January 9

Potluck at 6:00 PM

Business Meeting at 7:00 PM

We received the following notes to share with all of you: Dear Church Family: Thank you so much for the lunch-eon you provided for our family at the passing of my mom. She always felt so wel-comed here and I love you all for that! Your thoughts and prayers got me through a very diffi-cult time. Love, Frank n’ Sharon Bainbridge and family To My Church Family: I’m doing well though I admit I’m a little home-sick. Yes, I have been away this long before, but I always knew I was coming home eventually. My granddaughter is everything anyone could hope for. She does everything possible to be help-ful and make me feel part of her family. Love to you all-- Pat Plotner

If you have a checkbook for the church, please have it in the church office by January 6!

Here is the worship schedule during the weeks that Pastor Don will be gone: January 20 - Rob Miltenburger will be our guest speaker.

January 27 - The gospel group, Glory Way Quartet will perform.

February 3 - Pastor Pat will preach.

February 10 - The Chosen Ones will perform.

February 17 - Pastor Pat will preach.

February 24 - Rob Miltenburger will be our guest speaker.

March 3 - Pastor Pat will preach.

March 10 - The gospel group, Lonesome Road, will perform.

If you are in need of pastoral care, call Pastor Pat at 309-883-2884 or Church Moderator, Lynn Sutton at 309-852-3902 or any one of the following Deacons: Jeff Anderson, Logan Currier, Dave Dailey, or Steve Konstanty. The church office will typically be open on Tues-days and Fridays, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

JANUARY 8

When we let the Lord have a more prevalent place in our lives… the three attitudes I listed at the

beginning…readily & easily take form and fashion in our life…..Being careful….Being thoughtful

and being thankful.

Ephesians 5:15-20

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly,

but understand what the Lord wants you to do….

Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks

for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Happy New Year…Love the Lord and labor for Him through the whole of 2019. God bless!

Pastor Don

21st Century Teachers After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said: "Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning? I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their t-shirt messages and dress habits. You want me to wage a war on drugs, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self-esteem?" "You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job? I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect for the cultural diversity of others, and oh, make sure that I give the girls in my class 50% of my attention?" "My contract requires me to work on my own time after school, evenings and weekends grading papers. Also, I must spend my summer vacation at my own expense working toward advance certification and a Masters Degree? And on my own time, you want me to attend committee and faculty meetings, PTA meetings, and participate in staff development training?" "I am to be a paragon of virtue, larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedi-ent and respectful of authority. You want me to incorporate technology into the learning experience, monitor web sites, and relate personally with each student? That includes deciding who might be potentially dangerous and/or liable to commit a crime in school. I am to make sure all students pass the mandatory state exams, even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments. Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap?" "And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card. All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!" "You want me to do all of this and yet you expect me . . . NOT TO PRAY?!?!

Ronda Davis and Gary Larson work on making fudge at our “Fudge-making Party.” While they were doing that, Renee Reul was busy cleaning up a fudge mishap (look at her shoe!) There is still fudge and peanut brittle available for sale at $5.00 each.

Two doctors and an HMO manager die and line up to-gether at the Pearly Gates. One doctor steps forward and

tells St. Peter, "As a pediatric surgeon, I saved hun-dreds of children." St. Peter lets him enter.

The next doctor says, "As a psychiatrist, I helped thou-sands of people live better lives." St. Peter tells him to go ahead.

The last man says, "I was an HMO manager. I got countless families cost-effective health care."

St. Peter replies, "You may enter. But," he adds, "you can only stay for three days. After that, you can go to hell."

Three guys are fishing when an angel appears.

The first guy says, “I’ve suffered from back pain for years. Can you help me?” The angel touches the man’s back, and he feels instant relief.

The second guy points to his thick glasses and begs for a cure for his poor eyesight. When the angel tosses the lenses into the lake, the man gains 20/20 vision.

As the angel turns to the third fellow, he instantly re-coils and screams, “Don’t touch me! I’m on disabil-ity!”

In Memoriam We extend our deepest sympa-thies to Madeline Clow on the pass-ing of her mother, Paula on October 31. We had a me-morial service for Paula here at First Baptist on December 2.

Please continue to pray for Joyce Mitchell, who fell the day before her wedding and broke her ankle and four toes and

unfortunately forced her to postpone her wedding.

Please pray for Katie Howard and her pregnancy; may she bring her baby safely to her term date.

Pray for travel mercies and good health for Pastor Don and Renee while they are in Florida for two months.

Paula Clow

Have you made your New Years resolutions yet? Are you going to make any at all? You know, those vows you make to yourself of the things you are going to do differently in the new year that you didn’t do in the old one. Most of the time, you get a good start, but they tend to fall by the wayside after a time. At least that’s how mine usually go. But this idea of something new is a biblical truth that should be describing the life we’re living, that is, if we’re living that life in Christ.

Way back in Isaiah 43:19 God says “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” And then in Jeremiah 31:31, He says “Behold the days are coming, declared the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Ju-dah…for I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31:31, 34b)

In the New Testament also, much is said about things being made new. In both Ephesians and Colos-sians, Paul tells us to cast off the old man and to put on the new. But in both Romans and Galatians, Paul makes it clear that this is not something we can just resolve to do. “

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my

flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

Clearly, to resolve to do different can only result in failure. How then can we possibly find victory in our Christian walk? Paul gives us the answer to that dilemma in his letter to the Galatians:

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

In Philippians 3, Paul speaks of “Resurrection Power.” You see, the same power that rose Jesus from

the grave lives inside each of us. Tap into that Holy Spirit power, and you will find the victory you seek in

your life day to day.

Smile I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class

I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every

human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three peo-

ple and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so,

I thought this would be a piece of cake.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March

morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served,

when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch. An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had

moved. As I turned around, I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor

homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes

were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been

clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally chal-

lenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at

the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm

up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm.

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue

eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the

young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and

laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank

you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give

you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said,

"That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew

that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. That day showed me the pure Light of

God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor

read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal peo-

ple and to be healed. In my own way, I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every

soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons

I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE

AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

To handle yourself, use your head.

To handle others, use your heart.

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

The following are the top ten happenings for First Baptist Church in 2018 (not necessarily in the order of importance). If you believe we can improve on our Top Ten for next year, please feel free to help us out - come up and implement more ideas for spiritual learning, fellowship and fund raising.

1. We held a Craft Show and Bake Sale on October 13, headed by Bobbie Fox and Joyce Mitchell.

2. Pastor Pat led a four-week study on “Sharing Jesus Without Fear” in Oc-tober.

3. We held Vacation Bible School on July 30 - Aug. 3. Nancy Sutton led it.

4. Missionaries Chris & Renee Bochniak shared their vision of the mission work they are doing in Zambia in February.

5. We had 17 baptisms and received 19 people into membership.

6. We collected items for Thaddeaus Blanks, who joined the Air Force and is currently serving in Germany.

7. Larry Johnson laid out a new and wider sidewalk in front of the Christian Education wing of the church.

8. We sold food at Wiley Park this summer for the Levitt AMP Galva Con-cert series.

9. We had very successful fundraisers with the Fish Fry, Spaghetti Supper, Pies and Fudge.

10. We had six singing groups come in this year.

Please pick up your 2019 offer-ing envelopes, which are locat-ed in the Narthex (foyer in back of the sanctuary). If you cur-rently don’t have envelopes and would like a box, please contact Jeff Anderson or the church office.

The Greeters scheduled for Jan-uary are as fol-lows:

Jan. 6 - Eunice Plummer Jan. 13 - Dave & Brianna Tuthill Jan. 20 - Dave & Linda Dailey Jan. 27 - Gene & Jane Webster

The last night of Awana and Adult Bible Study

will be held on Thursday, January 10. The Awana

kids will get to play Silly Olympic games in the

gym and have a pizza party. We will hand out

high-point awards and Olympic awards!