GOD's Grace

Amazing Grace
Your Grace is Enough
Grace Greater Than All Our Sin

These are just a short list of songs of our faith, both old and new that speak to the grace which God has given to us.

Grace is not something that can be earned or worked for, but something that is given even when it may not be deserving. It is a pardon of someone who has done something wrong or let someone else down. A second chance when it may not exactly be deserved.

When thinking of God's grace it is easy to say that it is good and that is fine. But what is it really about God's grace that makes it really so gracious?

As people who are undeserving of the things that God has already bestowed on us, why do we continue to recieve His grace when it would make more sense to just be cast away for our transgressions.

For the R9-Guys Wednesday night I wanted to exam grace, but on a more personal level. What does it mean to you as a Christian? As a follower of Christ, does the grace God has so freely given truly effected your life? Does the grace He has freely bestowed upon you change the way you interact with people and treat them? Or do you just see God's grace as a "GET OUT OF HELL FREE" card in sort of a Biblical game of monopoly?

Look at Titus 3:1-11 (vs. 7)
What does this say about the way our lives should look given the grace we have recieved?

Also look at other passages on God's grace and bring your own insight.
Be ready to answer this one question(it should not be hard).
What symbol of God's grace do we have from the Bible?

DUECES
BigSam

Saying Bye

It is never easy to let someone that you have grown to love go. It is even harder when you can attribute so much of the person you are to what that person showed you about the person you could be. However, over the next two weeks that is what I and others at Oak Crest Baptist Church must do.

We must come to realize that God is bigger than Oak Crest, and Midlothian, and even yes: The State of Texas.

Jeff, I have been struggling for exactly what to say to you and about you as I bid you farewell and good luck in the new journey that God is taking you and your family on. You have been such a blessing in my life over the past 3 years. You have truly showed the Youth and definitely me what it means to live your life by our little saying and logo and name which is Chi Alpha (XA). You have exemplified what it means to put Christ first and to live your own life and lead your family in the same way.
It is by the nudging and pushing of God that I am back in school and pursuing a degree, but it was in big part due to your encouragement and support. You showed me that I could achieve many things if I just allowed God to do a work in my life and opened up my eyes to see what it means to care for others and I have grown to love everyone of our youth as I know you do.
I thank you for all of the leadership oppurtunities you have given me and the trust you have bestowed on me in watching your house and your dogs.
I guess what I am saying is that your dedication in leading our youth and our Church will not soon be forgotten and neither will you and your lovely family. Karis was born here and I was glad to be a small part of that in leading the youth on that night. Stephanie could not be a sweeter inspiration in my health and is one of the most loving and caring person I have had the pleasure of meeting. The two of you have done nothing but love all of us and show us how to love one another.

Thank you for all the hard work you have put in and for always being able to talk and give sound Biblical advice.
I wish you and your family the best of luck in Tennessee and the thing that makes it a little easier to say goodbye is the fact that I know God is only starting another chapter in your life and the life of Oak Crest. Where a chapter without you here seems hard to fathom, it would be selfish of us to keep you and not allow you to bless others and continue your work in Christ.

I am sure I speak for many people when I say thank you for the time and the memories.

DUECES
Sam

P.S. say hi to Mark


And to the rest of everyone who reads this: give Jeff a hug or something everytime you see him this week and wish him the best of luck.