September 28th -- Second Mile, Second Nature

Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:41-42


Hello Friends!

Can I just tell you how glad I am that it's nearly the weekend, nearly the Sabbath?
TGIF, indeed!
This FNF blog post is dedicated to all you lovely people who truly show the character of Jesus by "going the second mile". 
Speaking specifically of FNF, please believe I understand that it isn't easy to prepare a bible study for such an intelligent and lively group-- especially when I often end up asking you at the last minute. Similarly, our Friday Night "feasts" are often unpublicized miracles on a slightly smaller scale than the 2 fish/5 loaves story.
I just want you to know that you are all appreciated and that, to those who've never experienced/given into the crazy compulsion to spend time or money that you don't have for something that is for God, you're truly missing out on a real blessing.

FNF will be at KT's home!
We'll start the physical feast at 6:30pm and the study at 7:30pm.
Please come on time as, all I can say is, there will be yummy plantain and TVs involved :)

God bless & see you tomorrow evening!


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September 21st -- Life Precious Gift (Potluck!)

For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:12-13

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Hello friends,

This week we will have another potluck at Birmingham 1st SDA.
Our study leader for the evening will be... Victor! (woot woot!)

We'll do an Italian night/ Spaghetti themed potluck with a salad, bread & dessert as sides.
Please indicate in the chat box to the left of the screen what you'll be able to contribute:
Pasta
Marinara/Alfredo/fancy pesto do-it-yourself-sauce!
Vegetable side (brocolli, corn, carrots, asparagus, etc)
Bread (Texas toast/french bread, etc)
Fruit
Dessert
Drinks
Cups/plates/forks, etc.

I will update this post as I receive updates.
Thanks & God bless.
 

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Prayer for Matt's Family & Friends

"I'm grateful for your sense of humor, your wonderful smile, your great laugh. I'm grateful for memories. I'm grateful for this reminder not to take people for granted. I'm grateful for this sorrow, it's a sign of how much you meant to me. I'm grateful that my belief system tells me death is not the end. I'm grateful for life. I'm grateful for love. I hope you knew how much you were loved, by so many people." Emily S., friend of Matt's.


This week we're praying for:

The family and friends of Matt Bosley who died last Friday of a heart attack. Matt was a wonderful friend and the consummate FNF-er: a lover of God, nature, fun, food, movies & campfire Mafia. We came to know him through his relationship with his best friends, Tre' & Karah Thompson and grieve with them and others at his unexpected death.

There have been other recent, sad developments in the past few weeks and, as I read some of the posts left on Matt's wall by hurting friends, they summed up so eloquently how I've been feeling for awhile now. Here's the last one by Elisa R. As you read it, think not only about friends and loved ones who are no longer with us, but also think about people in your immediate sphere of influence who might be depressed, lonely or struggling with important decisions who could use a listening ear or advice or an invitation to lunch.


",,,Matt had this ability to be sincere and honest with his thoughts and feelings, he may not have always had a filter, but he was ALWAYS heartfelt. In that spirit, I'll forgo appropriate for honesty. I can't say bye or write you a beautiful eulogy because I don't UNDERSTAND what or how or why he was taken like this. I am angry for him - this IS unfair. He deserved better. I wish I could wake up on Thursday and change this chain of events, or call, or see him, or be there.

I wish I had gone to hang out every time I was too moody/busy/lazy. I wish I had called more. I wish I had taken more pictures. I wish I had more time and used it wisely. I wish I could debate/argue/ bargain with someone to bring Matt back.... I am so angry for every second that I don't remember because I thought I would have another one.... I cannot tie up this post in a bow of a clichés and silver linings. Grieving is grieving.

However, this loss has forced me to look at my loved ones with more tenderness and patience and appreciation - sometimes we need to re evaluate where our time is spent: Desk vs. Home. TV vs. Friend. Game vs. Talking... Sometimes we need to be a lil more like Matt and text someone and say "Coffee?"

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Love you guys.
The prayer requests from last Friday night are located under the "Past Prayers & Testimonies" tab to the right of the screen.

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November 2011, Railroad Park visit
June 2010, FNF family at Tre's graduation
June 2010, Tre' trying to show some love to his best friend.

November 2011, Taj India after stuffing ourselves on a Diwali feast.

July 2009, Chattanooga -- Tubing Fun

Sloss Furnace 2011 photo shoot -- Making Karah LOL, not CIS
Railroad Park 2011-- Just having fun

October 2009, FNF @Angela's ... Before Gen & Rose, there were Tre' & Matt.

July 2009 -- FNF Camping/Tubing group photo


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September 14th -- Be Reconciled

“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother and sister, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24


Hey peeps, 

We will have a pizza /ice cream themed feast tonight @Birmingham 1st SDA church.

Our study will begin at 7:45pm and will be led by Vuyo (thanks Vuyo)!
As mentioned last week, we will need your participation to make tonight a blessing. We will use FNF funds to supply 5 large pizzas from Papa Johns. They will most likely be the vegetarian option, the spinach Alfredo option, a plain cheese & some combination with pineapple.

We will need a few people to contribute to a simple salad, ice cream, toppings, cones & drinks.
Please indicate what you can help with in the chatbox to the left of the page.

The pizza will be there by 6:45pm. We will go ahead and impose a 2-slice limit initially to ensure that as many people as possible can have some.

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I signed up for this 40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer-thing on BibleGateway.com and it's been a blessing. I wanted to share with you Day 35's message as an inspirational reading of sorts:


"Thus there remains only one path for those who in following Jesus want to truly serve God in worship, and that is the path of reconciliation with their sisters and brothers. Anyone who comes to the word and sacrament with an unreconciled heart stands judged by doing so. Such a person is a murderer in God’s sight. That is why you must “first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” It is a difficult path Jesus imposes on his disciples. It includes much humiliation and dishonor for the disciples themselves. But it is the path to him, our crucified brother, and thus, it is a path full of grace. In Jesus, service to the least brother or sister and service to God became one. He went and was reconciled to his human kindred, and then he came and offered himself, the one true sacrifice, to his Father.

Psalm Fragment
O guard my life, and deliver me;
   do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
   for I wait for you. Psalm 25:20-21


 Journal Reflections
  • Is there someone with whom you need to be reconciled? Write about the circumstances that led to alienation from this person.
  • What step(s) might you take to begin the process of reconciliation?
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, thank you for reconciling me to yourself; now make me a reconciler.

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September 7th -- Someone to Watch Over Me

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8:3-4
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T.G.I.F Good people!

Friday Night Feast will be held this evening at Chichi's place -- 
 
Our speaker of the hour will be our resident genius-- Alesis!
We'll start with dinner around 6:30pm and begin our study around 7:45pm.

Please bring your bibles, a friend and, if you can, fruit or drinks to help out!

Thanks & God bless!

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