8 Ways to Pray during the Week of Memorial Day by Chuck Lawless

In the United States, today is Memorial Day – a day to honor those men and women who have died in wars defending our freedom. All over the country, people will have family gatherings, visit family graveyards, honor deceased war veterans, and march in Memorial Day parades. In the midst of all these activities, I encourage you take 15-20 minutes to pray these prayers today and throughout this week:

1. Pray for those defending our country around the world today. More than 150,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed around the globe, many serving in dangerous places. Their lives are on the line every day.
2. Pray for chaplains and Christ followers who serve among our forces.Believers in the military have a unique opportunity to be a light among those who daily face life and death issues. Pray for them to be faithful, obedient, and godly in a tough atmosphere.
3. Pray for friends and church families who have lost loved ones in war.Regardless of the number of years since the death, remembering is both honorable and painful. Pray especially for any who’ve lost loved ones within the past year.
4. Pray for believers around the world who face persecution today. Open Doors, USA reports that believers in more than 60 countries face some form of persecution; if so, we must pray for them as they face the possibility of death in a different kind of war.  Pray they will be faithful, even unto death.
5. Pray for families around the world whose loved ones have died under persecution. In some extreme cases, the non-Christian family itself may have been the source of the persecution. Pray for those who grieve and for those who still need to follow Jesus.
6. Pray for your pastors. As undershepherds of God’s church, they, too, are on the front line of the spiritual war. Praying for them now may prevent them from being shot down in this battle.
7. Thank God for believers who are now with Him, but who influenced your life for Him. You honor them today because they modeled faithfulness for you during the spiritual war. They showed you how to live victoriously, regardless of the cost.
8. Thank God for Christ, who paid the supreme sacrifice for us. No war death before or since the death of Jesus on Calvary has ever accomplished so much. We know the story, but we honor it too seldom: the Son of God paid the price for our sin, breaking the back of the enemy through His surrender to a cross. That’s worth remembering.

From the Shepherd's Heart...Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Looking forward to returning to a "normal" Wednesday night with us opening the Word of God to Philippians 1: 21-26.  We meet at 6:10 in the Auditorium.

Tonight is also the first Wednesday night business meeting which we will be doing through the summer.

The summer Children's studies begin tonight at 6:10 in the gym with Whitney leading a Bible study for new Christians.

I have not "officially" shared with the church but I will not longer be serving as the Director of the Huntsville Center for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  I have enjoyed seeing North Alabama getting the Master's program and seeing it flourish with two strong years.  I am looking forward to spending more Mondays in Rainsville plus assisting our capable director, Zack Richards, here at Rainsville Center.

Roxanne and I have finished our first cycle of "New Beginning" Class.  We will begin again in the fall.  It has been a wonderful time to spend 13 weeks with about 8 persons seeking more information about walking with Christ and joining our church.  Hopefully, it has provided a stronger foundation for them.

Our annual church picnic is this Sunday afternoon  beginning at 5:00 at the pavilion.  Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.  Bring side dishes, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, pickles, chips, desserts, drinks, etc.  We will have a good time.

Have you ever been to Israel?  I am going December 29-January 7 and would love for you to go with me.  Two of my best pastor friends (Bobby Atkins, Atlanta and Barry Clingan, Dallas) are going.  It will be a trip-of-a-lifetime.  I was at a funeral home last night with Bobby and Barry (Barry's step-father passed away in Soddy-Daisy, TN) and one lady came up talking about with such excitement how ever time she goes to Israel it is more exciting than the previous time.

I will have an interest meeting in the Conference Room fifteen minutes after the morning service this Sunday, May 22 for those wanting to know more information.  There are brochures available in the church foyer or write me at david@rainsvillefirst.com and I will email you one.

From the Shepherd's Heart...Friday, May 13, 2016

Happy Friday to you.  Roxanne and I have enjoyed some restful time this week away and are looking forward to being back this Sunday.

This Sunday:

*  Senior Recognition Service
*  Bro. Craig preaching for our Senior Recognition Service
*  Roxanne and I are hosting a Senior Recognition Luncheon
*  Mandatory Mobile Mission trip meeting immediately following the Morning service
*  Plainview High School Baccalaureate Service Sunday night at 7 at Rainsville Church of God.  We are participating and there will be no services at RFBC.

This past Sunday I used Mother's Day as an opportunity to remind you of my policy of baby dedications.  I like to do them individually and personally at the request of the family.  So, when you desire to dedicate your child to the Lord, contact me and we'll work out a date convenient to all.

Have you ever been to Israel?  Have you wanted to go?  Well, the Lord willing I am going December 29 - January 7 and I would love for you to go with me. 

This is a trip of a lifetime and it is only $3598 from Atlanta including everything except lunches.  There will be an interest meeting in the Conference Room fifteen minutes after the morning service on May 22 for those wanting to know more information.  There are brochures available in the Foyer.  Feel free to contact me for any questions.

Jesus Paid it All Elder DJ Ward James Poteet II

4 Reasons to Write by Hand Rather Than Type by Shaunacy Ferro

Once you leave school, there’s rarely a need to write by hand. Work correspondence happens on computers, as does social networking. Except for the occasional grocery list, there’s no particular need to break out your messy handwriting; typing is so much more efficient, right? But there are proven benefits to writing by hand. Here are four reasons you should dust off that pen and paper: 

1. IT ACTIVATES THE BRAIN. 

A 2012 study of children who couldn’t yet read found that writing letters by hand activated a circuit of neurons in the brain associated with reading. Tracing or typing the same letter, however, did not. This extra processing in the brain regions associated with literacy “may facilitate reading acquisition in young children,” the researchers write. 

2. IT IMPROVES SPELLING.

A 1990 study found that having kids write words out improved their spelling abilities compared to typing on a computer. 

3. IT HELPS YOU REMEMBER. 

A 2014 study that compared the memories of university students who took handwritten notes to those who took notes on laptops found that writing longhand better helps you learn new information. Those who wrote out their notes processed more of what was being said during their lectures, probably because they had to condense information to keep up, rather than mindlessly type the speaker’s words verbatim. In subsequent tests, handwriters recalled information from the lectures better than typists. 

4. IT HELPS YOU THINK FASTER. 

In a 2009 study of elementary and middle school kids, students writing by hand were found to write more, and more quickly, than those who typed on a keyboard. “Children consistently did better writing with a pen when they wrote essays,” the study’s author, psychologist Virginia Berninger, said in a press release at the time.