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THE CONNECTION (USPS579-240) Is published monthly by Highland Baptist Church,

808 W. Hickory St. Tullahoma, TN 37388.

Periodical Postage Paid at Tullahoma, TN.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The

Connection, P.O. Box 1195. Tullahoma, TN.

37388.

HighlandBaptistChurch.com

Celebrating

50

YEARS

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

6:45 AM - 5:30 PM Monday - Friday

PRESCHOOL AGES 3-5

ANN SMITH, Director 455-8642

This month is known as the month of love, with Valentine’s Day being the climax. When

you think about love, real love, true love, biblical love, you should automatically think of

the love of God, and love for God and that should immediately tell you something about

love. First of all, love is not just emotional. So often when we think about love we think

of it as a feeling or an emotion, but it’s so much more than that. Someone has described

teenage love as “a feeling you feel when you feel that what you feel is a feeling you have

never felt before.” Also, love is not psychological. It’s not just a matter of the mind. You

may say to someone, “I think I love you.” but, if you only think you love them, you

probably don’t love them. Love is also intentional. It’s a matter of the will. Love is a

commandment that’s followed by a commitment. For thousands of years (and in some

eastern countries to this day) the majority of marriages were arranged by parents. The

young people involved sometimes never saw each other until their wedding day. A young

lady from India was to be married to a young man she had never met. One day she

received a letter from her fiancée in which he wanted to begin a relationship and get

acquainted prior to the wedding. The young woman, however, returned the letter

unopened, saying she believed love should be developed after marriage and not before.

In explaining why, she believed this, the woman said: “When we’re born we can’t choose

who will be our mother and father, or our brothers and sisters. Yet, we learn to live with

them and to love them. So it is with our husband or wife.” In societies where this

philosophy is accepted, divorce is almost non-existent. Now I’m certainly not suggesting

that we go to the practice of arranged marriages. But the point is, romantic love has little

to do with a successful marriage, and love has little to do with feelings. I know love isn’t

a feeling because you can’t command a feeling and yet, God commands us to love

sinners, to love our friends, to love our enemies, and husbands to love wives. You see,

love isn’t something you fall into. Love is something you commit to. I’m convinced that

what a lot of people call “love” has nothing to do with love. We have one word “Love”

that gets used in so many different ways. I can say to you, “I love my wife. I love

homemade chocolate cookies. I love snow.” But when I say that, I hope you know that I

don’t love chocolate chip cookies or snow nearly as much as I love my wife. The kind of

love I have for her comes from God and God tells us that love is even greater than faith

or hope! 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and

love—and the greatest of these is love.” Finally, love is a chain reaction. Love is the

spark that kindles the fire of compassion. Compassion is the fire that flames the candle of

service. Service is the candle that ignites the torch of hope. Hope is the torch that lights

the beacon of faith. Faith is the beacon that reflects the power of God. God is the power

that creates the miracle of love. Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself, in that

order! Yes, love yourself and if you’re suffering from low self-esteem then get this one

thought into your mind and you’ll understand just how wonderful you really are. Here’s

the thought: God loves you. Now add to that this strong truth: God does not love you

because you’re valuable, you’re valuable because God loves you. God loves you so much

that He sent his only Son to die on the cross for you! He loves you, so you should love

Him! When you love God the most, you will love others the best and the way we love

others the best is by sharing the love of God with them in word and deed! So, know that

if you’re not loving, you’re not living and know that love begins and ends with God.

Pastor Jim

Highland’s Child Development Center

We are super excited with the large light

table we received free from Scholastic because of points from book purchases!

There are many educational and fun activities we can do on the light table, adding more diversity to our program. Please continue to pray for our staff to point our preschoolers to the light of

Jesus’ love. Please also be in prayer as we prepare for our annual assessment

and inspection this month.

HIGHLAND BAPTIST CHURCH WEBSITE: HighlandBaptistChurch.com 808 W. HICKORY STREET EMAIL: highlandbaptist@cafes.net

TULLAHOMA, TN 37388 Church Phone (931) 455-0645 FAX: 393-0440

JIM NORMAN SENIOR PASTOR

MATT KOEHLER MINISTER OF YOUTH AND EDUCATION

MIKE STRINGFIELD VOLUNTEER MUSIC DIRECTOR

TODD NICHOLS VOLUNTEER CHOIR DIRECTOR

KATHY HASTY NURSERY DIRECTOR

ANN SMITH CDC DIRECTOR

AMY JACKSON OFFICE MANAGER

CHARLES CANNON CUSTODIAN

JIMMY GADDIS FACILITIES MANAGER

ROGER WILLIAMS FACILITIES MANAGER

Deacon of the Week

February 1-7 Mike Stringfield

February 8-14 Bobby Ferrell

February 15-21 Ken Tatum

February 22-28 Mark Smith

Feb. 29-March 6 Jonathan Sipe

Children’s Church

Volunteers

Feb. 2—Tommy, Laura, Ryan

Feb. 9—Brenda, Ann, Joanna

Feb. 16—Ben, Linda

Feb. 23—Jordan, Amanda, Erin

HBC Deacon Family Assignments

2019-2020

Group Deacon

A– BOU Jonathan Sipe

BOW-DAN Mike Stringfield

DAO-F Roger Williams

G-HAR Bobby Ferrell

HAS-JA Marc Lee

JO-MA Steve Stone

MC-NI Jimmy Gaddis

NO-RI Ken Tatum

RO-SM Steve Conner

SN-TH Mark Smith

W Jason Robison

DEACONS Johnny McBride

February is here, and if your calendar looks like mine you may be thinking, “Now how in the world did it

fill up so fast?” It’s only the 2nd month of the year, and there are things going for the next 11 months. It’s

easy to be bogged down with the business of life and miss out on what matters. As some of you may

remember, the youth went to Strength to Stand recently on MLK weekend in January. One of the speakers

asked this question, “Do you see God’s word only as a tool or as treasure?” God’s word is a tool for us as

Christians. We use it to prepare lessons, share the Gospel, and disciple others. Sometimes we get so used

to using it as a tool we lose sight of God’s word as the true treasure that it is. Quickly I felt conviction,

because far too often I am guilty of this. In life we hold things close to us that we consider valuable or

significant. Whether it’s a family heirloom or our cell phone. We are quick to be sure to put these things

in safe places and somewhere we won’t forget. When it comes to God’s word the majority of Christians

in America today sit their Bibles aside only to be picked up maybe on Sunday. Remember God’s word…

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to

dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Heb

4:12

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. – Psalm 109:105

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” - Luke 11:28

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in

righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2

Timothy 3:16-17

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. –

Psalm 18:30

We see that to know and read God’s word it’s necessary for us to grow in our relationship with Him.

Even if you have started a Bible reading plan and are already behind, don’t let that stop you from still

finding the treasures within. I heard one pastor say, “God’s word is filled with many jewels waiting to be

discovered.” Take time to thank God for His word and the treasure it truly is. Take time to not just bring it

on Sundays but strive to read it daily. I would be willing to bet we look at our phones more than once a

week. How much more important is God’s word? Remember when Jesus was being tempted by the devil

in the desert to turn the stones into bread, Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread

alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4. Jesus clearly shows that we

need the word of God, and not just certain verses or a book or two, but every word of it.

Matt Koehler

Minister of Youth and Education

Inclement Weather Policy

Just a reminder that if Tullahoma City Schools are closed on

a Wednesday for snow or other inclement weather, then

Wednesday Night Supper will not be served that night and

AWANA will not meet. An announcement will also be on

the church’s Facebook page.

HBC Nursery Ministry

“When you truly love someone, you

want to please and honor them by the

way you act. How you treat someone

shows whether or not you really care

about them.” - Billy Graham

Sunday February 2:

Bible Study: Rosie Bouchard

Morning Worship: David and Diane Inocencio, Kim Dodson

Evening Worship: Judy Stockdale, Kathy Hasty

Wednesday February 5: Kim Dodson, Reba Stringfield

Sunday February 9:

Bible Study: Liz Whittemore

Morning Worship: Steve and Kathy Hice, Terri Stone

Evening Worship: Samanthia Norman, Belle Ruyten

Wednesday February 12: Kim Dodson, Judy Stockdale

Sunday February 16:

Bible Study: David Inocencio

Morning Worship: Kim Dodson, Rick Miller, Matthew Hasty

Evening Worship: Kristy Gaddis, Scarlett Carpenter

Wednesday February 19: Kim Dodson, Rema Bell

Sunday February 23:

Bible Study: Liz Whittemore, Lauren Fults

Morning Worship: Liz Whittemore, Lauren Fults, Amanda Monroe

Evening Worship: Brenda Griffin, Steve Stone

Wednesday February 26: Kim Dodson, Carrie Newton

February Nursery Volunteers

Nursery Director–

Kathy Hasty

If you are not able to serve

on your assigned date,

please call Kathy Hasty at

931-455-0977.

Highlands Highlights

February Greeters

2. Roger and Kay Williams

9. Kristy, Scarlett, Tracy

16. Jimmy Gaddis and Brian Tate

23. Lee and Sue Stevenson

Counters For February

Pat Gaddis

Beverly Daniel

Baby Shower

Lauren (Hasty) Fults

Saturday February 22 at 1:00 p.m.

She is registered at Amazon and

Walmart

Colors—Navy Blue and Gray

IT’S A BOY!!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 M-Fuge Deposit Due

2 Curtis Walters 3 Will Stone 4 Michael Durham Sybrina McGinnis

5

5:00 p.m.—Dinner

5:45 p.m..-AWANA

6:15 p.m.—Bible Study

7:05—Choir

6 Dr. Marc Lee 7 Lillian Ruyten

Chris Stafford

8

Valentines Day Banquet

6:30 p.m.

9 Centrikid Deposit Due Deacon’s Meeting 4p.m.

10 11 Jase Pearson

Jimmy Pearson

Donna Sanders

Prime Timers 12:30 p.m.

12

5:00 p.m.—Dinner

5:45 p.m..-AWANA

6:15 p.m.—Bible Study

7:05—Choir

13

14 15 Heath Stuart

16 12 18 19

5:00 p.m.—Dinner

5:45 p.m..-AWANA

6:15 p.m.—Bible Study

7:05—Choir

20 Jason Robison 21 22 Baby Shower 1:00 p.m. Lauren Fults

23 Sherry Beck Stan Smith Merlo Gunnar

24 25 Amanda Stuart 26

5:00 p.m.—Dinner

5:45 p.m..-AWANA

6:15 p.m.—Bible Study

7:05—Choir

27 Linda Conner

Donna Sanders(Barry)

Ava Wise

Mia Wise

28 29

Looking for the

Birthday List?

The birthdays are

here on the calendar

listed in Purple.

Prime Timers

Tuesday, February 11 at 12:30 p.m.

Bring valentines to exchange!

Sunday Schedule

*Coffee before Sunday School, everyone welcome *

Bible Study – 9:15 AM

Morning Worship – 10:30 AM

*Children’s Church is available during the Service for children

3 years old– 1st Grade*

Discipleship Classes – 5:00 PM

Youth Discipleship Youth Department

Adult Discipleship Training Conference Room

Team Kid (4 Years– 5th Grade)– 6:00 PM

Evening Worship – 6:00 PM

Wednesday Night Schedule

Wednesday Night Supper 5:00 PM*

(Begins August 28)

AWANA (Begins August 28) Babies—5th Grade

Supper & Check-In– 5:00-5:35 PM

Opening Council Time/ Rotations-5:45 –7:15

Parent Sign Out in the Fellowship Hall– 7:15 PM

Youth and Adult Classes All Classes Meet at 6:15 PM

Youth Group Youth Dept.

Sunday School on Wednesday Conference Room

Prayer Meeting/ Bible Study Sanctuary

Adult Choir Practice 7:05 PM

*There is no charge for Wednesday Night Supper, but a

sign-up sheet is outside of the Fellowship Hall so we can

know how many to expect for supper*