24

Are You Ready?

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2 23

A - Acknowledge his adventure

It is natural for one of your husband's

dreams to be something that im-

plies risk, danger or adventure.

And one of the most discouraging

things a man can hear from his wife is

"that's too dangerous." Or "not as long

as I'm your wife" or even "you could

never handle that." One very im-

portant aspect of encouraging your

husband to dream is letting him live

from his heart. Many times a man will

want to do something that doesn't

seem safe or practical. But those

may be the times you need to

smile, nod and tell him "Have a

great time, honey."

I remember when Hugh first told me

he wanted to climb Mt. Rainier. Now,

Hugh is an experienced climber, who

had been to the tops of several South-

ern California peaks. But I'd also

heard of the reports of climbing acci-

dents and missing climbers and the

deaths that have occurred while climb-

ers attempted Rainier. So, naturally, I

had reservations when Rainier was

next on Hugh's list of mountains to

scale. He spent a few days, off and on,

explaining to me the conditions under

which certain accidents happened and

how he was not foolish enough to

climb alone, to climb without proper

equipment, or to attempt a scale or

descent if weather wasn't permitting.

But finally, when I still didn't relent,

he sat me down and said: "I don't need

to hear you say 'be careful.' That's

something my Mother would say. I

really need you to be excited about this

with me and to be confident that your

man can accomplish this and to say

'Hugh, I hope you have a great time.'"

Honestly, I thought he was hearing "I

love you and don't want to lose you" in

the words "Be careful." But he was,

instead, hearing "I don't think you're

capable of this and therefore I'm wor-

ried that something will go wrong." I

gritted my teeth, tried to sound enthu-

siastic and told him "Have a great

time." And he did.

Nothing speaks to your husband's

male heart more than encouraging

him to enjoy his adventure, not tiptoe

through it. He doesn't want to be bur-

dened by the thought that you're wor-

rying. And besides, he wants you to be

confident he's man enough to handle

whatever is coming his way. Whatever

you do, don't say something motherly

like: "If you do something dangerous,

I'd be better off not hearing about it"

or worse "If you're not careful, I'll nev-

er let you go again!" Say, instead,

"Have the time of your life. And I want

to hear all about it when you return."

What release! What empowerment.

And only you can empower him that

way.

M - Make it happen - or make it a

matter of prayer

Some husbands just aren't planners.

They can talk about a dream for year -

as Jodi's husband did - but might not

have the confidence or knowledge of

where to start to make it happen.

That's where you might come in, if he's

open to letting you help him get there.

Edie's husband, Bill, dreamed most of

his life of taking a trip to Africa. But to

him, it was just that, a dream. When

he retired, Edie planned his dream for

him. "I wanted to support his dream

because I believed that he deserved it

after all his hard work." She worked on

the details, did the budgeting so they

could afford it and upon retirement,

Bill, his wife, and their two grown sons

went to Africa and experienced a real-

live safari.

If you do not have the ability or fi-

nances to help your husband achieve

his dream, then it might be time to

lean on God for what only He can do.

Start praying for open doors that your

husband can walk through in terms of

his dream. God knows what he

needs and what you need, too.

And God is faithful when you commit

this to Him, even if you're the only one

committing your husband's dream to

God. Can you be the big dream believ-

er alongside your husband? Can you

be the big dream believer for your hus-

band? As you encourage him to dream

big, he may begin to resurrect some of

those lost dreams or begin to believe

that he, too, can experience the won-

der of a life that is about more than his

work.

(Inspire Your Husband ...Continued from page 6)

23

22

What does that mean? It means that Joab had made a strategic

decision for the cities of God and he did

not know how it would turn out. He had

no special revelation from God on this

issue. He had to make a decision on the

basis of sanctified wisdom. He had to

risk or run. He did not know how it

would turn out. So he made his decision

and he handed the results over to God.

And this was right. It is right to risk for the cause of God.

E S T H E R A N D T H E H E B R E W B O Y S

Consider another example with me, this time from the book of

Esther, chapter 4. You recall that there was a Jewish man named

Mordecai who had been carried away into the Babylonian exile.

He had a younger cousin named Esther whom he had

adopted as a daughter because she was an orphan. She

grew up to be beautiful and eventually was taken by king

Ahasuerus to be his queen.

Haman, one of Ahasuerus' chief

princes, hated Mordecai and all

the Jewish refugees and persuaded

the king to decree that they be

exterminated. The king did not

realize that his own queen was a

Jew.

Now what did Esther do? She knew the law that anyone

who approached the king without being called would be

put to death unless he lifted his golden scepter. She also

knew that her people's lives were at stake. In 4:13–14

Mordecai asked her to take the risk and approach the king on

behalf of her people and the cause of her God. Verses 15–16 give

Esther's answer.

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the

Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast

on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink

for three days, night or day. I and my

maids will also fast as you do. Then I

will go to the king, though it is against

the law; and if I perish, I perish."

What does that mean? It means that Es-

ther did not know what the outcome of her act would be. She had

no special revelation from God on this issue. She had to make a

decision on the basis of sanctified wisdom and love for her peo-

ple. She had to risk or run. She did not know how it would turn

out. So she made her decision and handed the results over to

God. "If I perish, I perish." And this was right. It is right to risk

for the cause of God.

Consider one more example from the Old Testament, from the

book of Daniel, chapter 3. Again the setting is Babylon and the

Jewish exiles. The king is Nebuchadnezzar. He sets up an image

of gold and commands that when the trumpet sounds, all the

people will bow down to the image. But

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did

not bow down. They worshiped the one

true God of Israel.

So in verse 15 Nebuchadnezzar threatens them and says that if

they do not worship the image, they will be thrown into the fiery

furnace. Verses 16–18 give their answer:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebu-

chadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be

so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burn-

ing fiery furnace; and he will deliver us

out of your hand, O king. But if not, be

it known to you, O king, that we will not

serve your gods or worship the golden

image which you have set up."

This is sheer risk. "We believe

our God will deliver us. But even if he doesn't, we will not

serve your gods." They did not know how it would turn

out. They said virtually the same thing Esther said, "If we

perish, we perish." And they handed the outcome to

God the same way Joab and Abishai did: "And may the

Lord do what seems good to him." And this was right.

It is right to risk for the cause of God.

These risks for the cause of

God should be taken in

multiple areas of our lives. We

should take risk in our relation-

ships, with our money in giving, in our

witnessing about God’s grace, with our

spiritual gifts, and in corporate vision

casting.

W I L L Y O U T A K E T H E R I S K ?

And now what about you? Are you caught in the enchantment of

security, paralyzed from taking any risks for the cause of God?

Or have you been freed by the Holy spirit from the mirage of

Egyptian safety and comfort? Do you men ever say with Joab,

"I'll try it! And may the Lord do what seems good to him!"?

Do you women ever say with Esther, "I'll try it! And if

I perish, I perish!"? It’s 2013. A new year. Another

chance. Remember in Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 “Whoever

watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the

clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path

of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. It’s Your

Time. It’s Your Chance. Take the Risk 2013!

(Your Time. Your Chance...Continued from page 7)

3

4

Running Late?

Don’t Worry We Have Events To Fit Your

Schedule

All Year Long!

January

6 — Community Family Reunion Families all over the city will gather for a fun night. 8 — Begin Couples Empowerment (page 9) Marriage couples will meet for marriage enhancement.

19 — Christ Connection Ministry Leaders Conference for all.

22 — Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University Nine weeks of financial education begins at FBC.

February

16 — True Love Waits Conference A Youth Relationship conference with a formal dinner.

MarCH

4-10 — 7th Pastors Anniversary Celebration Worship services, golf tournament, dinner, and more. 27 — Seven I Am’s of Jesus Christ (page 9) Women ministers tag team preach about who Jesus is.

20 — Conversations at the Cross Community Pastors gather to share the 7 last words of Jesus.

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dsriddick.com/wpFBC 21

Clergy Of

FBC

Pastor Emeritus & Wife

Henry & Clarissa Blunt

Sr. Pastor Dwight Shawrod Riddick

Rev. Jennell Riddick , M.Div.

Minister William Bellamy

Minister Marilyn Freeman

Maximized

Potential aximizing the

potential of oth-

ers has been the

goal of Pastor Dwight

Shawrod Riddick, II for over

10 years now. Having had

the opportunity to serve in

many leadership offices, he

has seen others reach fulfill-

ment when they work hard

at something they are good

in doing. “Everyone won’t

do everything well. Howev-

er, when you find out what

you are good at you should

strive to be the best that you

can.” says, Pastor Riddick.

This is what he has modeled

in both his ministry and per-

sonal life. In addition to ac-

complishing his academic

pursuits

with a B.S.

in comput-

er Science

from

James

Madison

University,

and an M. Div. in Pastoral

Theology from the Samuel

DeWitt Proctor School of

Theology at Virginia Union

University he has also spent

a year being mentored by

leadership guru John C.

Maxwell. Maxwell is known

for his impactful writing. He

has sold over 21 million

books that have been trans-

lated into over 50 languages.

His international yet practi-

cal leadership tactics have

been used to add value to

others. His life principles

have now

been adopted

by Pastor

Riddick and

are being

used to bless

those that

meet him.

As a result of his desire to

grow, and willingness to

maximize the potential of

others, Pastor Riddick has

become a certified member

of the John Maxwell speak-

ing and coaching team. We

are excited for Pastor Rid-

dick and wanted to know

more about

his newest

accomplish-

ment, so CS

Magazine

took time to

interview

him.

CS: You are already a Pas-

tor. Why did you seek men-

torship from John Maxwell?

DSR: I am thankful to God

for allowing me to serve as

Pastor. I think it’s even more

a privilege to serve here at

First Baptist. However, I

believe in the power of ex-

posure. John Maxwell has

proven to be a successful

leader, and I know being

exposed to his level of lead-

ership would provide me

better in-

sight to use

as a Pastor

and share

with oth-

ers so that

they too

could grow

in their own leadership po-

tential.

CS: Isn’t it true that John

Maxwell stopped Pastoring

to pursue public speaking

and leadership training?

DSR: Yes, kind of. He start-

ed out Pastoring and then

changed who and how he

pastors. His leadership

teachings are all biblically

based and he constantly pro-

fesses his faith and beliefs.

Now he Pastors countries

instead of a congregation.

God calls some people to

that type of ministry.

CS: So, what does joining

his team mean for you?

DSR: Joining the Maxwell

team provides me with peo-

ple and leadership resources

that I can share with others.

My goal has always been to

help maximize the potential

of others.

I now have more information, a dif-

ferent type of training, and tangible

resources to do so. I always share

with the FBC family what I’ve

learned from Maxwell and any other

conferences I attend. I have shared

this mentor experience with them and

plan to provide the information I’ve

learned to business owners and those

in our community aspiring to maxim-

ize their leadership potential.

More Information at www. dsriddick.com

“… strive to be

the best you

can.”

“...I believe in

the power of

exposure.”

20

08—9

God has Been Looking For You

Find Him & Your Place In Him Join A FOCUS Bible Study Class @ FBC ~ 318 Hall St ~ Franklin, VA

Over 7 Different Classes Every Sunday Morning at 10AM

FBC Presents Weekly FOCUS CLASSES. All of These sessions are 11 week certificate classes taught every Sunday morning

from 9:30 AM to 10:30 Am. Each class is open to the entire community and absolutely FREE. Come study to show yourself

approved, while gaining valuable insight on how to succeed with Christ like principles. See you in FOCUS Class!

Focus 1— Basic Christian Principles

Lessons designed to equip new Christians on basic doctrine.

Focus 2—The Great Beginning

Study of the first books of the bible from Genesis to Joshua.

Focus 3— Bible Giants

Gain practical instructions from the great Judges to Esther.

Focus 4— Perfect Poetry

Poetic monologues & measures from Job to Songs of Solomon

Focus 5— Meet The Major Prophets

Survey the messages delivered by prophets Isaiah thru Daniel.

Focus 6— Meaningful Messages From Minor Prophets

A few powerful words from prophets Hosea to Malachi.

Focus 7—The Good News of the New Testament

Receive good news exploring Matthew , Mark, Luke, & John.

Focus 8— Church History

Take a look back at how the church was established in Acts.

Focus 9— Pen Pal Principles

Survey letters written for us to read in Romans to Revelations.

Focus E—Stewardship Principles

Find out what does the bible say about money and its purpose.

Focus E—World Religions

Discover the theologies of other major religions.

Focus E— How The Bible Was Made

Ever wonder how we obtained our bible? Here you learn how.

5

6 Inspire Your Husband To Dream

Learn 5 steps to encouraging the man in your life.

7 Taking Righteous Risk

Explore why taking a risk is the right thing to do.

9 Have a Laugh and Live Longer Did you know laughing increases year on your life?

9 Couples Empowerment Seminar Coming

Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage

10 Meet Roy Boyd (Cover Story) Roy Boyd is a young man on a mission

11 Meet Paul Hogart (Cover Story) Paul Hogart is a well of wisdom.

14 Rev. Jennell Riddick is On The Move See what’s happening In Walk In iT Inc fo 2013

15 The Need For A Spending Plan Do you know where your money is going?

16 A Portrait of Strength

God’s men are not weak men.

17 Meet The Men We Love Celebrating the men that changed our lives.

20 Bible Training Classes For You God has been waiting for you to FOCUS

21 Pastor DS Riddick is Maxed Out An experience with John Maxwell

22 Risk Takers

View images that express the idea of taking risks

Contents

Dawes Orr

Marilyn Freeman Jennell Riddick

Robin Jones LaTora Mathews

Barbara Reid

Community Synergy Contributors

Maxwell Leadership Training

21

Ramsey Financial Education

15

Couples Seminar

9

Learn The Power

of Laughter

9

Ignite In Him The

Power to Dream

6

Find Why

Risk Are Ok.

7

Cover Story

10-13

6

Inspire Your Husband To Dream. By: Cindi McMenamin Continued from last issue of CS Magazine.

I have discovered that a man expresses his heart

in a very special way when he expresses a

dream. But often we, as wives, can discourage

- or even destroy - that dream if we're not

careful in how we respond. Rather than saying

"That's not safe" "That's not practical" or "That's just plain

stupid!" here are five ways (in an acrostic spelling

DREAM) that you can draw out of him his dream

and encourage him to pursue it for the sake of his heart

and your own.

D - Draw out of him the dream

When it comes to the dreams on your man's heart, they

may be stuffed deep and it may take some creativity and

some luring to get them out of him. There may also be

some wounds attached to some dreams he's had, especially

if they go back to childhood. Maybe he once dreamed of

doing something with his father and his father is gone

now, so he doesn't talk about it anymore. Or worse yet,

maybe he dreamed of something that his dad - or someone

else - discouraged him about or made him feel he wasn't

up to it. Tread lightly, yet affirmatively. Ask your hus-

band what he'd love to do if time or money were

no object. If he's stuck in practical mode or insists he has

no dreams, give it time. And listen for ways that he implies

a heart's yearning. It could be something simple like: "I've

never been to a pro football game. That would be pretty

cool." Encourage him to dream by telling him you'd like to

see him achieve his heart's desire so it's about time you

start talking about it.

R - Respond positively

Instead of telling him: "Yeah, right, like that could ever

happen!" be the optimist (and cheerleader) instead: "I

think that's a wonderful dream. What could we begin do-

ing now to see that it happens someday?" If his dream

seems far fetched, start praying about it. If it's clearly be

yond his reach at this season in your lives, then get

creative in ways that can reinforce the

dream and keep it alive. Lisa's husband, Rick,

has always dreamed of visiting other countries. So

Lisa got creative and started finding a way to

honor Rick's dream, and to keep him dreaming

of what they hope to someday experience

together. "We have monthly date night," Lisa

said. "Sometimes I choose a country, go to the

library, borrow musical CDs and books to get ideas for

clothes, culture and so on, and then dress for the occasion,

decorate accordingly, order take out, and let him enjoy a

'night in another country!'"

E - Encourage him to take the first step

For years, Jodi's husband, Troy, has been talking of rent-

ing a charter boat and going walleye fishing with his

friends. So for his 40th birthday, Jodi surprised him by

booking a six-man charter boat to walleye fish on Lake

Erie. While some men might feel a little uneasy

about their wives planning their dream for them,

there are those who might never get out the door if you

don't lend a hand - or a push - to help them. Jodi found the

balance. She surprised her husband with his dream as a

gift, to get him started, and has since turned over the helm

so he can now make it happen for himself.

(Continued on page 22)

6

We Are Thankful For Godly Men Who Walk The

Way They Talk. They help us accomplish our

dreams. - Men of FBC

Brother CLYDE JOHNSON

has tirelessly served as a trus-

tee and treasure of FBC for

many years. He is the epitome

of a Godly man, husband,

father, and ministry leader.

We Thank God for service

and believe the best is yet to come for him and his family.

19

Claver Reid

Pastor Dwight S. Riddick, Sr.

Haywood Riddick

Ray Ruffin

Deacon Micahel Smith Judonald Sweat

Rev. Joe Whitfield “IN LOVING MEMORY” William Banks, Sr.

William Britt

William McCoy Britt

James T. Deloatch, Sr.

James A Jones

Algie Mabry Jr. John Nichols Richard C. Myrick Antonio Marcel Reid

James E. Reid “Peter”

Haywood Trotman Preston Wallace Carl Walker

You are missed! Rest in peace my

dear brother. Love, Melissa

me laugh a lot. “Don’t be speeding

down the streets of gold”. Miss

you, Sister Barbara

Precious memories, thank God for

a godly father. You are never for-

gotten. Brenda B. Jones, Daughter

eousness. We thank God for you.

Your memory will live in our

hearts forever. Your loving daugh-

ter Christine & grandchildren!!!

Thanks to my father for molding

me into the man I am today. Love,

your son JT

Thank you for all that you do. We

love you more than you’ll ever

know. Love, Kelli, Janay & Kris-

ten

To my wonderful husband. Your

loving wife, Sandra

Forever in my Heart! Son Alvin

I love you very much and I know

God has something great in store for

you. Claver, remember God loves

you unconditionally. Love, Mom

us with a warm smile. We thank

God for you. Love, your FBC

family

Thank you for being a loving husband.

Love, Tracy

Forever in my Heart! Daughter

Johnetta

I love you daddy as my star—you

left a shinning and a happy twin-

kling in my heart. Love, Barbara

(Poo)

Thank you for

your words of

encourage-

ment and for

always greet-

you took a part of me with you.

You will always be in my heart and

thoughts.

Love, Mom

have been an angel watching over

me. You will be forever in my heart.

Love, Richell

God took us on a journey for many

years. At your death the family

circle was broken & I thank God

for the journey. Love Always,

Barbara

Marc, you were my

first born and I’m

grateful to God for

such a special gift.

When you died,

Thank you for being

a wonderful brother,

husband, father and

friend. I miss you

dad but I know you

A gentleman focus-

es on honor, pride &

dignity. But a God-

ly man focuses on

love, compassion,

and right-

Coy, remember-

ing the good

times we had

climbing trees

and playing in

the woods made

to Sunday school every week, he

was my number one cheerleader.

His memory lives in my heart for-

ever. Love, Alexa

We know that all things work to-

gether for the good of those who

love God—those whom he has

called according to his plan. Love

your wife, Glennie

P.T. was truly

the epitome of

what a Godfa-

ther is destined

to be. Not only

did he take me

Dad you are evidence that God

loves us. Thank you for all that

you have been to us. We are

proud of you! - Riddick Family

You are the most compassionate

and caring person in the world.

We thank God for you always.

- Riddick Family

19

18

Clarence Holeman

AT Holland

Deac Paul Hogart

Herbert Hunter

The Jewettes

Claude Johnson

Clyde Johnson

Deac Cleo Jones

Willie Jones

Winston Jones Henderson Lawrence

Darnell Lee, Sr. & Sons Kory

& Darnell Jr.

Algae Lynch

Hubert Lynch

Algie Mabry, Sr. Larry Mathews

Alger Nichols Michael Nichols Myrone Rawlings, Sr.

Sidney Rawls

Thanks for being the world’s great-

est dad! Love, your children

We salute a special husband &

father. Love ya much, Carroll &

Altreese

A patriarch who is filled with

knowledge and wisdom; you are a

faithful servant who spends your

life sharing God’s love to all who

will listen. Love, your FBC family

not have begun. You have been

there when we most needed you.

But most of all, thank you for

being our dad. We love you,

Cheryl & Herbreta

Every man is a volume if you know

how to read him. Luke 15:22-24

Love, Mom

Love, Tora, Logan Jr., Kelli,

Janay, Sharod, Macyah, Hailee,

Jeremiah, and Kristen

To the man in my life for 40 plus

years, the father of my children and

the love of my life. We all love you.

Ann, Derrick & Tara

Thank you God for a godly hus-

band and father. The ending is

better than the beginning. Thank

you God. Brenda B. Jones, wife

by his love of God, his personal

character & the charity of his

heart.” I thank God for the gift of

you. Genesis 1:27 & Proverbs

22:4 Love, Deanne

We love you. Thank you for all

you do! Love, Marilyn, Xavier &

Layla

God has blessed me with men of

God, men of honor, and men of

courage. I love you, Kim

You are a loving, caring, and hard

working man of God. Love, Shirley

You are a hard working man of

God. Love, Shirley

You are an honorable husband,

fantastic father, and a powerful

papa. Love, Mildred, Melissa &

Melanie

What God has for you, it is for

you. We love you! Charleen &

children

I am proud of the man you have

become. Love you, Mother Jessie

Nichols

I love you daddy!! Love, Kiersten Thank God for the changes that he

has made in your life and we appre-

ciate everything you do for our fami-

ly. Love you, Belinda, Natron,

Shatavia, MJ and Mykeria

Thank you for all your sacrifice

and everything you have done for

us. We will make you proud.

Love, Carlos, Andre, Trey

during my illness. He shows me

where God is truly in his life.

Keep him in your prayers, as he

continues to connect with God.

Helen L. Hambrick

A great many

thanks for all

you have done.

Without you,

our lives would

“The measure of a

man should not

be determined by

his worldly pos-

sessions but part-

ly determined

Thank you for

being a great

father and grand-

father. Thank

you for all you do

for each of us.

We love you!

You have been an

influence by en-

couraging me to

be me. You’re

very supportive in

all my endeavors,

7

By: John Piper

If our single, all-embracing passion is to

make much of Christ in life and death, and

if the life that magnifies him most is the

life of costly love, then life is risk, and risk

is right. To run from it is to waste your life.

What Is Risk?

I define risk very simply as an action that

exposes you to the possibility of loss or

injury. If you take a risk you can lose mon-

ey, you can lose face, you can lose your

health or even your life. What's worse, if

you take a risk, you may endanger other

people and not just yourself. Their lives

may be at stake. Will a wise and loving

person, then, ever take a risk? Is it wise to

expose yourself to loss? Is it loving to en-

danger others? Is losing life the same as

wasting it?

It depends. Of course you can throw your

life away in a hundred sinful ways and die

as a result. In that case, losing life and

wasting it would be the same. But losing

life is not always the same as wasting it.

What if the circumstances are such that not

taking a risk will result in loss and injury?

It may not be wise to play it safe. What if a

successful risk would bring great benefit to

many people, and its failure would bring

harm only to yourself? It may not be loving

to choose comfort or security when some-

thing great may be achieved for the cause

of Christ and for the good of others.

Risk Is Woven into the Fabric of Our

Finite Lives

Why is there such a thing as risk? Because

there is such a thing as ignorance. If there

were no ignorance there would be no risk.

Risk is possible because we don't know

how things will turn out. This means that

God can take no risks. He knows the out-

come of all his choices before they happen.

This is what it means to be God over and

against all the gods of the nations (Isaiah

41:23; 42:8-9; 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:8-11;

48:3). Since he knows the outcome of all

his actions before they happen, he plans

accordingly. His omniscience rules out the

very possibility of taking

risks.

But not so with us. We are not

God; we are ignorant. We

don't know what will happen

tomorrow. God does not tell

us in detail what he intends to

do tomorrow or five years

from now. Evidently God in-

tends for us to live and act in

ignorance and in uncertainty

about the outcome of our ac-

tions.

This is what he means when he speaks to

us in James 4:13-15.

Exploding the Myth of Safety

Therefore risk is woven into the fabric of

our finite lives. We cannot avoid risk even

if we want to. Ignorance and uncertainty

about tomorrow is our native air. All of our

plans for tomorrow's activities can be shat-

tered by a thousand unknowns whether we

stay at home under the covers or ride the

freeways. One of my aims is to explode the

myth of safety and to somehow deliver you

from the enchantment of security. Because

it's a mirage, it doesn't exist. Every direc-

tion you turn there are unknowns and

things beyond your control.

The tragic hypocrisy is that the enchant-

ment of security lets us take risks every

day for ourselves but paralyzes us from

taking risks for others on the Calvary road

of love. We are deluded and think

that it may jeopardize a security that

in fact does not even exist. The way

I hope to explode the myth of safety

and to disenchant you with the mirage of

security is simply to go to the Bible and

show that it is right to take risk for the

cause of Christ, and not to is to waste your

life.

"May the Lord Do What Seems Good to

Him"

Consider the context of 2 Samuel 10. The

Amalekites had shamed the messengers of

Israel and made themselves detestable in

the sight of David. To protect themselves

they hired the Syrians to fight with them

against the Israelites. Joab, the commander

of Israel's forces, found himself surrounded

with Amalekites

on one side, and

Syrians on the

other. So he

divided his

troops, put his

brother

Abishai in

charge of one

troop of fight-

ers, and led the

other himself.

In verse 11 they pledged to help each other.

Then comes this great word in verse 12:

"Be of good courage, and let us be coura-

geous for our people, and for the cities of

our God, and may the LORD do what

seems good to him." What do these last

words mean, "May the LORD do what

seems good to him"?

Continued on page 22

It’s Your tIme

Your Chance

It’s Your tIme

Your Chance

Taking Righteous Risks in 2013 Taking Righteous Risks in 2013

… it is right

to risk for

the cause

of Christ...

8 17

Ronnie Adams

William Banks, Jr.

Naeem’ Bashir

Bruce Baxter

William Baxter

Min William Bellamy

Deonne Blunt

Rev Henry Blunt

Deac Ricky Blunt

Delano Bowers

Earl Branch

Michael Britt

Robert Britt

Cordailous Bryant

Kirk Chalmers

Ellis Cofield, Jr.

Donald Cross

James T. Deloatch, Jr. Oscar Gary, Sr.

Oscar Gary, Jr.

all that God created you to be. I

thank God for how He has kept us

together as man & wife for all these

years!!! I love you, Nelda

praise and love our hearts can

give. Love, dad, mom, Rickeita,

Megan, Xavier & Mason

all, your love. Love, Dorothy,

Rickeita, Deon, Megan, Xavier,

Mason

I thank God for you and all that you

do. Thank you for your unwavering

love & support. With all my love,

Robin

love and compassion for others.

Love, your FBC family

ries by chuckling at old photos,

feeling loved and knowing you

always have a friend. Love, Sister

Barbara

importantly a wonderful husband to

Teleace. Love, Oscar & Devonda

love, encouragement and hard

work. You are simply the best

husband & father in the world.

We love you! Love Beneta &

Trey

We love you, from your wife

Queenie & children Donna, Chan-

tel, Desiree & Jr.

To my father & hero. Love your

daughter, Sandra

we’ve shared will grow more deeper

still somehow. Love, Sister Barbara

You are a good man. Thanks for

all you do and for always sup-

porting me in my endeavors.

Love, Pat

my father he has been there for the

ladies in the family. He is very

dedicated to his ministry at church

& we are proud of you. Love

mom, Lenora & Veretta

Thank you for all you do. Love,

Alice

the touch of my hand can’t ex-

plain how much I treasure you;

but I love you & the family that

we have made. Love Devonda &

children

selor. You told us “The Best is

Yet to Come”. God is doing his

best & much, much more. Love,

your FBC family

GOD” and my heart smiles. I

love you, you’re a wonderful son

and a great big brother. I am very

proud of you. Love, mom & dad

God bless you brother and may

God give you the desires of your

heart. Love, Sister Barbara

Happy Anniversary! 26 loooooong

years!!! Love, Josh

Thank God for a man after his own

heart. Thanks for all you do for

your church & family. Brenda B.

Jones, sister

To a wonderful

father, brother,

brother-in-law,

uncle, friend &

husband – I ap-

preciate you for

The Priest,

Protector &

Provider of our

home. Thank

you for all the

You have been

an influence in

my life because

you are my

brother. Since

the passing of

You are truly

an angel. We

thank God for

you and all that

you do, and

appreciate your

For being such a

fine example,

honest, upright,

and with so much

strength, you

deserve all the

You have had a

hand in so much

of what is good in

our lives. Thank

you for your guid-

ance, your sacri-

fice and, most of

You’re a won-

derful father &

husband. Some-

times, my

words, the look

in my eyes, or

When I look at

you and see the

young man that

you have be-

come, my I say

“Thank You

I am so very

happy that you

are my son-in-

law. You’re a

good son-in-

law and most

Remember as

the coming

years unfold

before us now.

The special

memories

Having a brother

means trusting,

caring, giving,

and getting pep

talks, laughing

until you cry.

Making memo-

“To God Be

The Glory”

Thank you for

being an Awe-

some pastor,

friend & coun-

17

16

WEAK? You Thought Godly Men

Were

Meet Real Men. God’s Men. 9

Confused about which way you are going in life? Up or Down? Join our MARRIED COUPLES EMPOWERMENT

And Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage

Begins Jan 9 at 7pm ~ www.firstbcfranklin.org

318 Hall St ~ Franklin, VA 23851 ~ 757.562.7158

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Proverbs 17:22, reads, "A merry heart does

good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries

the bones." (NKJV) The New Living Transla-tion says it even better: "A cheerful heart is

good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a per-

son’s strength."

With the high cost of prescription drugs these

days, we can all benefit from some good medi-

cine that's free!

According to a 1988 Health Update published

in The New York Times, a group called "Nurses

for Laughter" at Oregon Health Sciences Uni-

versity wear buttons that say: "Warning: Hu-

mor May Be Hazardous to Your Illness." A

family practitioner at New Jersey's School of

Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Marvin E. Herring,

said, "The diaphragm, thorax, abdomen, heart,

lungs and even the liver are given a massage

during a hearty laugh." And Dr. William F. Fry

of Stanford University said that "laughter stim-

ulates the production of the alertness hor-

mones catecholamine's. These hormones in

turn cause the release of endorphins in the

brain. Endorphins foster a sense of relaxation

and well-being and dull the perception of

pain."

Laughter is good for your health

Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good,

hearty laugh relieves physical tension and

stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to

45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune sys-

tem. Laughter decreases stress hormones and

increases immune cells and infection-fighting

antibodies, thus improving your resistance to

disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endor-

phins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.

Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-

being and can even temporarily relieve pain. Laughter protects the heart. Laughter im-proves the function of blood vessels and in-

creases blood flow, which can help protect you

against a heart attack and other cardiovascu-

lar problems.

Just Smile Just Smile

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

10

Roy Boyd, Jr. is a young man like David – “A

man after God’s own heart.” He diligently

seeks God for guidance and direction. Roy is

one of the latest recipients of the Gates

Millennium Scholarship worth approximately

$450,000.00. This scholarship will afford Roy an

opportunity to pursue his education from undergrad to

his doctorate. Roy attends James Madison University

in Harrisonburg, Virginia pursuing a degree in Psychology.

Roy is the son of Rosa Boyd. Roy was recently interviewed

about his view on bridging the gap between the generations of

today’s church.

How do you feel about the seniors in our church?

In particular, Deacon Hogart, I am in awe of how he looks at

things. I enjoy listening to their experiences to glean what they

have been through and apply them to my life in a particle way.

He gravitates towards Deacon Paul Hogart, Jr.

Continued on Page 12

10 15

By: Crown Financial Ministries

f you were going to build a house, you would need a

house plan. This plan would tell you the size of the

house, and how big each room would be. It would tell

you where the windows would go and how high to

make the ceilings. You would see where to put in the

plumbing for the bathrooms and kitchen. Obviously, you would-

n't be able to know all of these things without

the house plan.

Obviously, plans are necessary in order to

reach a goal. When a person decides to run for

a public office, he or she makes out a plan that

includes where to get the necessary financing

and how much will be needed for advertising,

marketing, and other office expenses. Teachers

must have a plan for what they will teach each

day, each week, and each month. They are required to plan out

when to give tests and to measure their students’ progress

throughout the year.

In the Bible, whenever God was instructing His people to do

something, He always gave them a detailed

plan, i.e., building the tabernacle, the ark, or

the temple. God gave detailed laws that the

Israelites were to follow while living in the

Promised Land. The Bible is full of examples

of the importance of planning.

Proverbs 21:5 tells us that, “The plans of the

diligent lead surely to advantage, but every-

one who is hasty comes surely to pov-

erty.” Luke 14:28-30 says, “For which one of you, when he

wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the

cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he

has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it

begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was

not able to finish.'”

If plans are so important, why do so

many of us think we can manage our finances without one? In a

recent survey of Crown.org visitors, we asked how many used a

plan for managing their finances. Less than half of the respond-

ents reported using a spending plan.

Many people hear the word “budget” and respond negatively.

They think of a budget as being restrictive, too limiting, and too

legalistic. Yet, in truth, a budget can be very

freeing; it can bring peace and break the bonds

of being a slave to our money.

A budget is simply a plan – a plan for how to

spend the money we have. As Christians, we

recognize that everything we have is a gift

from God. We are not the owners; we are

simply the managers of what He has entrusted

to us. Knowing this fact should give us a better

perspective on how we handle money. A budget is a great way to

make sure we are handling money in the best way.

Without a spending plan, it is impossible to know where your

money goes each month and whether you will have available

funds for the things you need. The “not know-

ing” can create feelings of anxiety and fear.

Financial problems can cause stress in marriag-

es and other relationships.

When you create a spending plan, you can

have the peace of mind in knowing that your

bills can be paid, you have funds available for

emergencies, and you know what you can

spend for the things you need and want.

The Lord blesses us with resources (or money) so that we can use

it wisely to fulfill His purposes in our lives and further His king-

dom. Without a plan for how to manage our finances, we may

never reach our goals and experience true financial freedom.

Dave's most popular class is all new! In 9 lessons, you'll learn to take con-

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Where: First Baptist Church ~ 318 Hall St ~ Franklin, VA 23851

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14

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11

“Walk a mile in my

shoes” a phrase that describes

Deacon Hogart in many ways.

Deacon Paul Hogart a long time member

of the First Baptist Church family . A Bible

scholar and a theologian in his own right. He was

born to Mr. Paul and Mrs. Minnie Hogart and was

raised in Franklin. Upon graduating from Hayden High

School in 1951, he matriculated to Virginia State College

where he majored in Sociology and graduated May 28,

1956 with a B.A. Degree. Deacon Hogart spent four

years in the United States Air Force. His basic and tech-

nology training was spent in the United States while the

remainder of his time was spent in Okinawa, Japan.

Though his first duty station choice was Europe, he was

pleasantly pleased with Japan so much so that he extend-

ed his tour three times for additional six

months each. He then went to

New York where he was a

Social Worker for some

fourteen years before returning

home after his father’s

accident. Continued on Page 13

11

12

Do you think that there is a generational gap in the First

Baptist Church family?

RB: Yes, the youth and the seniors do not spend as much time

together. Many of the programs that we have are held separately

to help develop those ministries. The Pastor preaches for every-

one.

Is this done intentionally? RB: No, there are natural differences that exist but there is no

animosity between the seniors and the youth. They each have

their own ministry. Their ministries are used during the 11:00

am worship, which benefits all.

Is their particular reason you mentioned Deacon Hogart? RB: Deacon Hogart is very vocal. His intellectual point of view

and how he articulates like Aristotle. His ability to explain and

break down his understanding of the Word is extraordinary. I

admire his sincerity most of all. He is so sincere and genuine

about the things he says and does in the name of Lord. His life

experiences, his biblical study and dedication to live for God

have given him a wealth of wisdom to be honored.

Have you ever sought advice from any of the seniors? RB: No not in particular, but I watched from a distance and took

notes. This opportunity has led me to be intentional about the

importance of what our seniors have to offer and what I can

learn from them.

What do you think is

the role of the youth

are today’s church? RB: The role of youth,

we are the generation

that will take the reins

one day. It will ultimately be our responsibility to take charge.

We should spend time and learn the principles that will propel

the church forward from the previous generation to this genera-

tion. Those who are in leadership will eventually be gone. The

church has existed for 146 years and it is those principles that

have brought us to this point. These principles should be learned

and passed on even though we may do things differently. There

are certain core principles that must be passed on in order for the

church to survive. My generation may have more innovative

ways of doing things, but we must have the basics to continue

this forward progress of the church.

What is your perspective of First Baptist Church having a

young Pastor? RB: When I joined First Baptist in 2006, Pastor had the ability

to reach out to me and we connected. He does this for countless

others, that is the kind of preacher he is. With his unique ability

he has managed to help us bond. In many situations, pastors

were older and they did things totally different. Now we have

been exposed to a new way that some may consider radical, but

it has changed how we look at the church. Even though he is

young, he has a higher mind set or maturity that allows him to

reach the seniors as well as the youth. He does a great job of not

leaving anyone out. His behavior and relationship with Pastor

Emeritus Blunt is with such honor and respect. He continues to

look to Rev. Blunt for good counsel. Then there is this willing-

ness of Rev. Blunt to be available to Pastor

Riddick. Their unique relationship demon-

strates that gaps do not have to exist between

the young and the young at heart. Theirs is

an example of a relationship that we could all

learn from because they are able to come

together to grow the church for God which is

and remains the central focus of the church.

12 13

Do you think that there is a generational gap in the First Bap-

tist Church family?

There once was a generational gap during the earlier church but

since Pastor and Rev. Jennell have been here we have seen the

gap closing. The remix is an example of a way of bridging the

gap and it provides ministry for the youth. It is a little harder for

the youth and the senior generation to interact sometimes because

of the gap in the knowledge and understanding of the two genera-

tions, but they have worked diligently to remove this gap.

Is this bridging done intentional? Yes there has been intentional purpose to close the gap between

the generations. As the older generation passes away the young-

er generation must step up and take responsibility. Our leader-

ship has ensured that this is done by creating an atmosphere that

warrants interaction and communication to help reduce confusion

between the generations so that a smooth transition may take

place with as little friction as possible so that the church will con-

tinue to grow and thrive.

How do you feel about the youth in our church? I think the youth are becoming mature because we have concen-

trated on the educational as well as the spiritual components of

each group by developing a curriculum that focuses on each level

of the life stages. I believe that they are progressing towards

maturity very successfully. The old format of the church school

was a system of memorization and we now have a system that

uses understanding and comprehension as well as memory to aid

the spiritual growth for all.

Are there any particular young people that you

gravitate towards and why? Roy Boyd and Yale Cullings come to mind. They

have displayed the right attitudes and actions. When

your outward actions align with your inner person it

causes one to be grounded. These are two examples

of young people who have shown integrity. They

appear to be unified within themselves and this adds to their suc-

cess. There are other youth that stand out as well but these two

in particular come to my mind. The youth of the church have

been very polite and this is as I believe because of good training

in the church that contributes to their fine character. The Gideon

Warriors is a great ministry that builds principle ideas of disci-

pline and responsibility reminding me of days in the military.

Developing self-control in order to develop the necessary charac-

ter skills required for a successful life. I attribute this to the in-

fluence of Pastor Riddick, so that there will be a smooth transi-

tion into future leadership.

Do you think that the Seniors in your generation take ad-

vantage of becoming mentors and guides for our youth? Yes, again, I refer to the Gideon Warriors. Awesome program

aimed at our young men. While Rev. Jennell has the young la-

dies interest at heart. They appear to be like

a double barrel gun, they aim for the young

men and the young women, not allowing

either to escape or fall between the cracks.

These programs focus not on what you have

done but what you can become.

Have you ever given advice to any young people in the

church? Not in particular. But I have monitored and am aware of my

behavior to ensure that when people are watching, especially our

youth, that I will not lead them astray. Our actions must align

with our belief systems or other wise there will be division and

thus conflict will result. We must be cautious of what we say and

do at all times because we have no idea who is watching and how

we will influence their lives.

What do you think the role of the Seniors are today in the

church? Seniors should be examples and models that exem-

plify good moral character. We should make the

written word become the living word by our very

life.

What is your perspective of having a younger

Pastor? I have been amazed by the amount

knowledge, wisdom and understanding that God has entrusted to

Pastor and Rev. Jennell. This has been a blessing for First Bap-

tist. They are a dynamic team. Their leadership and Pastoral

guidance has been awesome. You can see the prophesy of God

being full- filled right before our very eyes. It is a wonderful

blessing to see how God has moved in our lives because of the

blessing He has given to us through them.

What do you hope will be your legacy for the church? In

other words what would you like to be remembered for? In general, having lived an honorable life with God. In the mili-

tary they explain that there are five types of discharges and one

should always be aware of the type of discharge one receives.

The one that we should work for is an honorable discharge which

means to live and serve a honorable life. The song states - “May

the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me” would define me. I want to

be worthy of the trust that had been given to me. I want to be

remembered as dependable and reliable. And as you think of me,

I pray that integrity will be what I have represented through my

words and actions. According to Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is

more desirable than great riches, and favor is better than silver

and gold.” I pray that I have kept a good name and that I have

been pleasing in the sight of God.

13