Want to know more about the exciting new Women’s Events and Classes?

Check out the NAOBC Women’s Ministry weblink to learn more. This year’s Women’s Retreat (April 18-19) and Tea & Fashion Show (August 23) have already been announced!

In addition, Ninth and O’s 2008 Academy women’s classes begin on Wednesday, starting with Workshops for Women! Every Wednesday at 6:45pm a fantastic facilitator will teach a different workshop. There’s no cost involved and you can sign up in the church lobbies.

The six Workshops for Women include:

2-13-08: Developing a Personal Quiet Time
2-20-08: Creating a Budget for Your Home
2-27-08: Cooking on a Budget
3-05-08: Decorating Your Home on a Budget
3-12-08: Hospitality and Etiquette Part I
3-19-08: Hospitality and Etiquette Part II

If you’re looking for a way to serve, please speak with me on Sunday and share some of your interests. There are many opportunities - big and small!

~Jennifer Patterson

As we shift into second gear while on the road to financial freedom, we find many practical steps we can take to begin our journey out of debt. First, we must know what Scripture says about debt: it is discouraged, it is slavery, and we have a responsibility to repay what we owe (Rom 13:8; Prov 22:7; Prov 3:27-28). Second, we must know how to reduce our debt: keep the car long enough to pay off the loan; prepay a little each month on your mortgage; borrow for investments only when the investment is the sole collateral for the debt; and carefully consider the stability and edge that accompany operating a business debt free. Finally, we must learn 11 ways on how to get out of debt: (1) pray for strength, (2) start giving regularly, (3) do not accumulate more debt, (4) establish a budget that allows for debt repayment (5) set up an emergency account of at least $1000, (6) list your assets – determine if you should sell some items, (7) list your liabilities, (8) establish a repayment schedule, (9) consider earning additional income, (10) consider changes in your lifestyle, (11) don’t give up! With the Holy Spirit’s leading, we can be confident as we cruise to the next mile marker on the “Road to Financial Freedom.”

Last week we had the opportunity to learn from Dan and Jen Born of how God has shown himself faithful in and through their lives and marriage. With Dan and Jen, we begin a new tradition of spotlighting couples on our site who have shared with us in class. Now, introducing Dan and Jen…

You’ll know Jennifer Anne Born by her curly red hair. She’s the baby of her family and was raised in Oklahoma. Growing up, she got involved in a youth group and submitted her life to Christ when she was 17. Jen attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After graduation, she accepted a job with Exxon in Houston. She became a member of Houston’s First Baptist Church (HFBC) where she met Dan.

Jen is currently a Software Developer for Zappos.com. She’s older than Dan by seven months, a fact Dan doesn’t let her forget! Jen starts off each morning with a cup of decaf tea. She loves to read and knit, and she’s always up to grabbing an Icee after church.

Daniel Ferris Born is a foot taller than his wife. Like Jen, he is also the baby of his family. He was baptized at the age of seven but entered a period of rebellion as a teenager. He attended a Baptist college but was still giving into a life of partying and running from God. Following a serious car accident and a close call with DUI charges, Dan turned back to Jesus. He then got involved in ministry on his college campus. After graduation, he landed an internship at HFBC and met Jen in the singles department there. Once married, Dan gave up a banking career to begin seminary at Southwestern’s Houston campus. He attended Southwestern for a year before he and Jen made the move to Louisville for Southern. Dan currently works at the James P. Boyce Centennial Library as a bindery assistant. He loves reading, fly fishing, and getting dragged to fabric stores by Jen.

Dan and Jen were in the same small group at HFBC. They quickly became friends following some deep discussions on The Purpose Driven Life. One fine day, Dan ran his car into a curb going 60mph in a 35mph zone. Because of his broken car, Dan needed a ride to a church event that night. He purposely set it up so he’d land a ride from Jen. Dan and Jen officially began dating in July 2004 after Dan made his intentions clear in the parking lot of Late Night Pie. Two weeks into dating, Dan declared his love for Jen, and, in January 2005, Dan proposed in a poem. They were married on May 7, 2005 and moved to Louisville in June 2006.

Sunday, February 17, we will have an all class lunch in our ABF classroom. We will be enjoying everyone’s favorite Italian dishes. Already, we have had a great response. For those of you who are new to our class, this is a great chance to make and invest in new friendships.

If you have not had an opportunity to sign up, don’t worry. The sign up sheet will be passed around again this Sunday. We could use another salad and main dish. We could also use more desserts and drinks. If you would like to bring any of these things please, sign up or email me at wadeandRebecca[at]gmail[dot]com. We look forward to seeing you all on the 17th.

~RLM

This week, as we continue our study in Gn. 4 and 5, we consider the meta-narrative provided by Genesis 1-3, the way this narrative plays out in the story of Cain and Abel, and the beginning of the genealogies of two lines of people.

A meta-narrative is an overarching story that explains all of our individual narratives. In Genesis 1-3, we have been looking at the story that explains all of our stories. Some of our greatest questions find their answer here. Who is man? What is his problem? What is the solution to that problem? This answer to these questions forms the creation, fall, redemption paradigm that unfolds throughout scripture. As we move into chapter 4, fallen man looks for the promised one who would crush the serpent’s head, 3:15.

The language of Gn. 4:1, “With the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a man,” suggests that Eve considered Cain to be the promised offspring. The narrative tells us that Cain worked the soil while Abel kept flocks. When they both bring an offering to the Lord, Abel is accepted, but Cain is rejected. Some have said that this was because Cain did not bring an animal sacrifice. However, it is more likely that Cain held back his offering. We read, “… Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil ….But Abel brought fat portions …”. When Cain saw that his offering was rejected, he was angry. The first murder, a brother killing a brother, follows because of his rage. When God comes to judge Cain, one can see parallels with the account of God looking for Adam and Eve in the garden. Cain lies to the Lord, and the Lord places an even harsher curse on him: the land will not produce even if he works it hard, and Cain will be a wanderer. All hopes of Cain being the promised offspring are quickly dashed. That promise will be fulfilled elsewhere.

As the narrative moves forward, two genealogies unfold. Cain’s family history begins the formation of an anti-God line. Cain has a son, Enoch, and he names a city after him. This is the first mention of a city, imagery which is used throughout the Bible to signify man’s rebellion against God. We learn of Cain’s descendant, Lamech, who takes two wives and boldly murders a young man, which he even boasts about. Within little space, things are looking very dismal. However, there is another genealogy. Adam had another son, Seth, and Seth had a son, Enosh. And we read that at that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. This line will lead to Noah and beyond. So we see that hope will come from a particular son, a particular family, a particular nation, and eventually a particular person: Jesus Christ.

The idea that there are two lines of people must be kept in mind today. Even though it is a very unpopular idea, there are only two camps that every person fits into. Each person is either a child of God or anti-God. For one, there is hope, for the other, a curse. We are compelled to confront everyone with this truth because we are all anti-God without grace. This is the meta-narrative that explains who we are, what our problem is, and what the solution is.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 4.

~TWM

While getting on the on-ramp of the road to financial freedom, there are three key things that we must do to help us navigate our course.

First, we must know why the Lord cares so much about money. He cares because how we handle money has a significant impact on the intimacy of our relationship with God (Luke 16:11), and He has given us a blueprint for handling money (Isa 55:8-9). Second, we must recognize God’s part in our finances: He owns everything, He is control of everything and He provides for our needs (Ps 24:1; Luke 14:33; 1 Chr 29:11; Dan 4:34-35; Rom 8:28; Matt 6:33; Ps 139:3-4). Finally, we must recognize our part in handling out finances. This is the responsibility of that of a faithful steward, how to handle the 90% of our finances that we don’t tithe, and how to be faithful in little things (1 Cor 4:2; Luke 16:10).

When we truly understand these three concepts, we have a foundation on which we can start. Only then can we press the accelerator down and continue on the road to financial freedom.