Tates Creek Christian Church monthly Current for August 2015

Tates Creek
Current
August 2015
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who
sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think
they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what
you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:6-8

Tates Creek Christian Church 3150 Tates Creek Road
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Contact
Tates Creek Christian
3150 Tates Creek Road
Lexington, KY 40502
(859) 266-1621
office@tatescreek.org
Visit Online
www.tatescreek.org
facebook.com/tatescreekcc
Worship
Sunday
Traditional - 8:30 am
Blended - 9:50 am
The Vine - 11:10 am
Sunday School -
8:30, 9:50, 11:10 am
Evening - 6:30 pm
Staff
Tommy Simpson
Kim Beckwith
Don Seevers
Mike Allen
Brad Haggard
Matt Lee
Lesley Tipton
David Eversole
Billy Bishop
Conor Doyle
Office Staff
Kim Jones
Jenni Gregg
Rhoda Rolfes
Vicki Wesley
Contents
Feature Article
10-11 “If We Aren’t Praying Boldly for Our
Kids, Who Is?”
In Every Issue
3-9 Minister Articles
12 Prayer Ministry
12 Guided Prayer Topics
13 Elder/Deacon Serving Schedule
14 Intern Article
16-19 Devotional thoughts each week
22 June Statistics
23 New Members
24 Calendar
Ministry News
15 Missions Moment
Events
20-21 August Events
Mission
Tates Creek Christian Church exists to win
people to Christ (evangelism), build up believers
in faith, knowledge, and service (encouragement),
to help those in need (benevolence), and to stand up
for Christian values in the community (witness).

One of my favorite things to do in ministry is a teaching call
where I share from the Bible how a person becomes a Christian.
One of the greatest joys in life is sharing the Gospel of Jesus
Christ! On a Tuesday afternoon in June, I had two teaching calls
back to back. One was with a lady who thought that in order
to be a member of this church, she had to be baptized again. As we were
making our way through the Scriptures in the teaching call, she came to the
realization that she did not need to be baptized again. She knew in her heart
she became a Christian when she was baptized earlier in her life. When she
left from the teaching call, she possessed a greater confidence in the salvation
that Jesus provided for her. She was really smiling!
That teaching call was followed by another teaching call with a twenty-year
old young man by the name of Jake. Jake had been raised in a different kind
of religion. He had been sprinkled when he was a baby. He knew about Jesus,
but he did not know anything about grace. As we made our
way through the teaching call, many light bulbs were going
off as he grasped the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus. At the
conclusion of the call, I asked Jake where he thought he was
with regard to a decision to become a Christian. He said
that he was ready to be baptized into Christ. Then, I asked
him when he would be ready to do that. I also suggested
that we could do it right now, or we could wait until Sunday.
He said that he wanted to be baptized right then. Since Jake was a childhood
friend of our Preaching Intern, Conor, I suggested that Conor baptize him.
He said that he would really like that. So, Conor, Jake, and I went to the
baptistry for Jake’s baptism. After that, we went out and celebrated by eating
at Ramsey’s.
In light of our present sermon series on prayer, I share these stories for
the purpose of asking you all to pray. Ask our Lord to provide many more
opportunities for teaching calls to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I make
this request of you in the confidence of I John 5:14-15 which says, “And this
is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according
to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,
we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him” (NASB). We
know with full confidence it is God’s will that people be saved. So, with
confidence in this request, please ask our Heavenly Father to provide many
more teaching calls. With confidence in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ! ~Tommy
tommy@tatescreek.org
Tidbits from Tommy
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Lexington, KY 40502 www.tatescreek.org

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Senior Adults
Our topic this month is effective prayer. Now when I think of
this I can’t help but share my favorite illustration on the topic.
That is: A mother told her young son to head up to get ready for
bed. She told him to brush his teeth, put on his pajamas, say his
prayers, and get in bed, then she would be up to tuck him in and
kiss him good night. The boy dutifully did as his mother said, but when his
mother found him in bed she also found a rope tied to his bed post. “What’s
the rope for?” she asked her son. He said, “Tonight when I said my prayers I
asked God for a pony.” Brothers and sisters that is a prayer said in faith. He
prepared for God to answer his prayer. I wonder how many of us pray that
kind of prayer? I hate to admit my spiritual shortcomings but a fews weeks
ago I failed miserably at that kind of prayer. I have been trying to pour some
concrete for a sidewalk at my house for nearly a month now, but the rain
keeps interfering and keeps my workplace a mud hole. This past Monday, in
anticipation of my day off the next day, I prayed that it would not rain so that I
could get this job done. I was tired and discouraged
at all the rain keeping me in a mess, so I prayed for no
rain on my day off. Well, the next morning the first
thing I did was consult the weather report and sure
enough it was calling for rain. I checked it hourly
through the morning and it just kept calling for rain,
so I decided not to pour the concrete lest it get rained
on. Well it did rain. It rained on the north side of
town, the east side of town, the west side of town, but it did not rain on the
south side of town where I live until well into the evening. I could have poured
the concrete and it would have had plenty of time to cure before evening when
I could have safely let it get rained on. Here’s the problem. I prayed but then I
consulted the weather. If I had prayed the type of prayer that little boy prayed
I would not have consulted the weather I would have just gotten to work
believing it was not going to rain on my project. I would have gotten the job
done. I’m afraid that’s most often the prayer we pray. We pray, but then check
the weather, not really believing God would honor our prayer. I learned a great
lesson that week, that is to pray the kind of prayer that brings a rope along with
it. That is the basis of effective prayer, a prayer said in faith.
Humbled by the Lord once again,
~Bro. Kim
kimbeckwith@tatescreek.org

The Lord’s Prayer or the Model Prayer...
that is the Question!
Quite often, we hear someone speak of the Lord’s prayer when
they are actually thinking of the Model prayer that Jesus taught
us in Matthew 6:9-13. Some versions also include the additional
words “for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.”
Similar words to these are found in I Chronicles 29:11. I am sure many of
you grew up in a church family that recited the “Lord’s Prayer” every Sunday
as a part of the worship order. I am not sure what has caused this common
reference to these words as the Lord’s Prayer. I know that many of us enjoy
the musical version of this prayer through the music of Albert Hay Malotte, as
it is a favorite song at weddings and special worship occasions. But, if we are
honest, we would realize that many of us said these words over and over again
for years without really thinking about their true impact in our lives. These
verses, like many others in the Bible, are prayers where we should be speaking
directly to God as we pray them.
I guess that I have always thought of the Model Prayer as a beginning point
in our adult prayer life just as “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord
my soul to keep…” is to children.
The powerful prayer of Jesus (or the Lord’s Prayer)
is found in John 17. This entire chapter is an earnest
prayer from Jesus to His Father! In these words Jesus
prays for Himself as He prays to honor God through
the work God sent Him to do on earth. Then He prays
for His disciples, the ones selected by the Father and given to Jesus for the
work He had to do. He prays for their protection in the work they have yet
to complete. Then He prays for all who believe and those who will come to
believe, that they will be united with Him in mission and in bringing honor to
God through their lives.
Yes, this is truly the Lord’s Prayer...that we may all bring glory to the Father
through our lives and that the world will see us as being united with the
Father, the Son, and other believers. Seeing all of us as ONE will bring true
honor and glory to the Father. This is effective prayer; praying for the Father’s
will and unity in all things. Let us focus on sincerity in our own prayers and
not be caught up in using familiar phrases we have heard others use. Effective
prayer should focus on what God wants and what others need, not
our own wish list!
~ Don
don@tatescreek.org 5
Don’s Dynamics

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“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”
(James 5:16b NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I have always wanted to feel like
my prayers were powerful and effective. I think I have had the
misconception that in order for my prayers to be powerful and
effective, I must pray longer, more often, or without ceasing. I do believe that
we as Christians should be in constant conversation with God throughout each
day, but I’m not sure that is what makes our prayers effective.
What James says in the scripture noted above, is that powerful and effective
prayer requires righteousness. This has always bothered me a bit. I know I
am not righteous. The book of Romans tells us that not
even one person is righteous (except for Jesus). Does
that mean that we have no hope for our prayers to be
powerful and effective? Of course not, lets explore why!
To understand how our prayers can become powerful
and effective, we must first understand what could
be impeding the power and effectiveness in our prayer. I think a common
impediment to our prayer is that we ask with selfish desires or wrong motives.
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James
4:3a NIV) This is something that is pretty well understood and most of us can
recognize in our own prayers.
There is another impediment to our prayers as well though, unconfessed sin.
For me personally, this is often something I don’t think about when I pray. God
can have nothing to do with sin, so how can he ever have anything to do with
us? Well, through the blood of Jesus, our sin has been blotted out.
If we do not confess our sins, we are in some way pretending that our sin isn’t
sin at all. Essentially, by not confessing our sin, we are claiming to have no sin.
The apostle John speaks to this in 1 John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin,
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we
claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place
in our lives.” In the middle of verses 8 and 10, which both speak to what we
proclaim with our unconfessed sin, is the answer to how we become cleansed of
our unrighteousness. We must confess our sins and he will purify us from all
unrighteousness. Therefore, allowing our prayers to be powerful and effective.
Start your prayers by confessing every sin to God, so that He will hear you and
your prayers may be powerful and effective!
In His Service, ~Mike
mike@tatescreek.org
College Ministry

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Student Ministry
Confession
An issue that comes up frequently with youth is that
they don’t feel confident praying to God for anything and
everything. “How do I know that He will hear me?” “What
does it feel like when God listens to your prayer?” “I’ve never had God
answer a prayer of mine, so what should I do?” In thinking through those
questions, there is one key element that students experience at camp and on
retreats which opens up the power of prayer, confession.
In James 5:16 we are encouraged to pray because “the prayer at work of
a righteous person accomplishes much.” (16b), but there is a stipulation to
the verse. The key to being “righteous” is to
“Confess your sins to one another and pray for
each other so you may be healed.” (16a) For
James, prayer simply wasn’t as effective if it
didn’t come from someone who had confessed
their sins and repented.
This is a huge part of the camp and retreat
experience for students. They are pulled away
from all of their normal distractions and forced to examine their lives in
light of the teaching. If there is a time in a young person’s life where they
are most likely to open up about their lives and find support, it is at camp or
a retreat.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the prayers offered up
during these times are the prayers that have the most effect in the lives of
our students. Hearts are renewed, minds are transformed, and students are
called into ministry. It’s difficult to think of a more powerful time of prayer
than on these retreats where the group is praying for each other.
Since most of us don’t have regular retreat experiences anymore, we must
find ways to make confession to each other part of our regular spiritual
habit. Then we can find the true power of effective prayer.
Let’s lift Him up together! ~ Brad
brad@tatescreek.org

This summer in Uptown we have been studying the superheroes
of the Bible. For example, Moses was humble, Noah was obedient,
Abraham was faithful, and Deborah was a leader. After we hear
the story, we talk about ways to put this special superpower to
work in our lives. One of my favorite Bible superheroes isn’t often
read about in children’s Bibles, but he made a huge impact. I remember his
story being told briefly as a child, but when I first went into ministry full time,
I did an in-depth study into his story. His story included courage and standing
against the enemy. His story is about someone who gave up the comforts of
his life to show love to an entire nation that had lost their focus on God. His
accomplishment was something the entire people of Jerusalem had not been
able to accomplish for nearly 100 years, yet his project was finished in less than 2
months. His name was Nehemiah and his superpower was prayer.
In Nehemiah 1:4 it says, “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For
some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Following this verse is an incredible prayer asking for God’s forgiveness for
his people back home and God’s provision to change their lives. It was after this
prayer that Nehemiah had the courage to ask the king for permission to return
to Jerusalem, share his plan with the leaders, and rally a nation to rebuild their
walls in 52 days! When I look at Nehemiah’s prayer, I see a few things that are
evident. Nehemiah’s prayer was a prayer of brokenness and humility. He knew
that God was the only one who could do something about the situation, but in
order to have God on his side, Nehemiah needed to set things straight with God.
The second thing was a bold request and a trust that God would provide.
When I started using these elements in my prayer life, I saw a dramatic change
in the effectiveness. When I don’t have humility, brokenness, bold requests,
trust, and a dependence on God’s Word, there is a noticeable difference.
A few weeks ago I was reminded of effective prayers again when we
experienced God doing something incredible for the children in Liberia. For
the past 6 years there has been a ban on adoptions for healthy children. When
Oretha, our orphanage director was in Lexington, it was clear to her that this
ban would continue at least the next 2 years. We prayed boldly for God to lift
the moratorium. The result of these prayers came on June 30, 2015, when the
Liberian president surprisingly lifted the ban for all children. We continue to
pray that God will raise up sponsors to connect with these amazing children.
I am excited to see how God responds to these prayers and ask you to join in
praying with us for these precious children.
~ Matt
matt@tatescreek.org
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Childrens Ministry

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Preschool Ministry
Critterland News
We all want our prayers to be “effective”, right? To have our
prayers answered, and in the way that we want them? We
look so much at the “results” of our prayers, we sometimes
become selfish in our desires and pray with the incorrect
intentions.
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,
that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” James 4:3. We also
need to make sure that we are praying in a way that lines up with God’s
will. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask
anything according to His will, he hears us” 1 John 5:14. Praying with God’s
will in mind is essentially praying while knowing what He would want, and
we can find God’s will in Scripture. In keeping with what I wrote about
last month, we should pray continually. In Luke 18:1, we are told to pray
with persistence and “not give up.” We should also make sure that when
we present our requests to God, we pray with faith (James 1:5-6). It is the
strength of our faith, not the length of our prayers, that pleases Him. After
all, God knows what our needs are even before we ask (Matthew 6:8).

~ Lesley
lesley@tatescreek.org

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I wish I could confidently say that I’ve got this mom thing all
figured out. I’ve been working on this amazingly thrilling job
of raising kids for close to 17 years. And while I love my kids
to pieces, I can’t say I’ve mastered motherhood.
I’ve done a lot wrong as a mom. Haven’t we all? But, one
thing I know I’ve done right is praying boldly for them.
Recently, I mentioned 3 things I pray over my kids everyday:
* I pray they grow up to be some of the most godly people in their sphere
of influence.
* I pray that they would be caught when they make wrong choices.
* I pray that God would save them from the wrong friends and save them
for the right friends. And that goes for their future spouses as well.
These are great prayers to pray over your kids. I
need simple and these are simple. But, they are
also powerfully effective and I’ve seen God answer
them time and again. Especially the getting caught
part- have mercy. I will keep praying these prayers,
however, there is something I’ve been working on
changing up just a bit. I’m not changing what I pray
but rather, how I pray. I want to pray more boldly
over my kids. And by boldly I mean with more
confidence and authority.
James 1:5-7 reminds us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not
think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man,
unstable in all he does.”
As a mom, I want to be single-minded on the reality that if God entrusted
these kids to me, I am the exact mom they need. And as the rightful holder
of that position, I will believe not only in God but I will also believe that I
have what it takes to raise these kids right. As long as I ask for God to help
me each day, I can be the mom I need to be.
So, besides praying the above prayers for my kids and also
whispering “Help me Jesus, help me Jesus, help me Jesus”
If We Aren’t Praying Boldly
for Our Kids, Who Is?

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If We Aren’t Praying . . . continued
about 100 times a day, I am praying these prayers for myself as a mom…
Lord, help me to:
* be ruled by truth not fear.
* not build the stability of my identity on the fragility of my kid’s choices.
* walk in humble confidence that you, Lord, will give me everything
I need to be the mom these kids need. Hush Satan’s accusations and
condemnations so my prayers will never be hindered.
Sweet sisters, being a mom is not for the faint at heart. Be encouraged that
God led you to read this today to remind you, you are a good mom! You are
the exact person He picked to be the mom of your kids. Now, walk in that
sweet encouragement and awesome responsibility!
~ Lysa TerKeurst
Lysa TerKeurst is the New York Times best-selling author of The Best Yes, Unglued,
and Made to Crave. She is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and writes from her
sticky kitchen table in North Carolina where she lives with her husband, Art, five kids,
three dogs, and a mouse that refuses to leave her kitchen. Connect with her at
www.LysaTerKeurst.com.
Another One of God’s Blessings…
Praise God the mortgage on the missions house has been “paid.” The
house was purchased in July 2012
for $239,000 using funds from the
missions reserve account, gifts from
the congregation, and a mortgage for
$150,000. The house was completely
furnished through donations from the TCCC family. Through continued
generous gifts and some funds from the missions reserve account the
total remaining on the note was paid this year-- June 2015. Of course
the missions reserve account which is maintained for emergencies that
might arise with our missionary families needs to be replenished. This
will be done as funds become available. Currently the house is rented
to a missionary family of six who are home on furlough with Southland
Christian Church. The family ministers in Mozambique where
they have served since 2006. We are blessed to be a blessing to
others.

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Power of Prayer
I’ll start off by asking you this simple question,
what has prayer done for you? I cannot answer this
question for you, but I can for me. I know there
have been times in my life when I had no control
over what was taking place, but because I came to be
saved I started to believe that through God all things
were possible. This is where the power of prayer has
brought me through some very difficult times.
There have been a lot of times that I have asked
Jesus to help me because I knew or felt that I was
not able to handle what was taking place in my life
at the time. The most trying time in my life was my
divorce. I found myself alone and lost in life. I was
depressed and frightened. I remember praying and
asking Jesus to help me and send me a Godly woman
I could love and who would love me in return. It
took God only one month after my divorce to
answer my prayers. He provided me with not only a
Godly woman, but also a great new family.
Now, this was not the first time God had answered
my prayers but it was the greatest one. I have prayed
for many things in my life. Everything from better
health for friends and family, to protection from the
enemy while at war. While not all of my prayers
were answered, I have come to accept the fact that
God has a reason for everything.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if
you have faith.” Matthew 21:22
~ Kenneth Melton
PrayerDaily Guided
Prayer Topics
August
1 People struggling with
sin
2 Mark 11:24
3 Tyler & Katie Selby
4 BlueGrass Christian Camp
5 Tommy and his message
6 Lighthouse Ministries
7 Members in nursing
homes
8 Those seeking
employment
9 Matthew 7:7
10 Travis & Emily Weeks
11 We Care Store
12 Missionary families
13 Teachers at local schools
14 24 hour caregivers
15 Our walk with Christ
16 Matthew 21:22
17 Refuge for women
18 Party in the Park
outreach
19 Sunday School leaders
20 Government leaders
21 Students in the new
school year
22 Unsaved HS and MS
students
23 John 14:13-14
24 Judy Fish with CMF
25 Hands & Feet Ministry
26 Worship Leaders
27 Eastern State hospital
staff and patients
28 All TCCC families
29 Parents with unsaved
children
30 James 5:14-16
31 Steve & Doretha Limiero
The mission of this ministry is to pray, motivate, and train others to
pray, and to provide prayer opportunities so that we might know our
Lord more intimately and serve Him more fervently.

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Communion Serving Schedule
August 2
Elders: Kent Mason, Larry Bugg
Deacons: Craig Martin, Keith Wertz
Ashland Terrace: David Straub
Home Comm: Ed Hall, Russell Brown

Sat Comm Prep: Brian/Sontina Hogston
Prep after 1st Srv: Chris/Debbie Dennison
Clean-up after 1st Srv: Chris Hines
Prep after 2nd Srv: David/Joanne Shuman
Clean-up after 2nd Srv: Chris Hines
Prayer Room: Mary Robey, Kevin Hickey
Ushers: D.Ison, S.Stack, B.Burke, C.Wilson
August 9
Elders: Nick Wallen, Kent Mason
Deacons: Lucas Moore, Stuart Kearns
Ashland Terrace: Russell Brown
Home Comm: David Straub, Bill Johnson,
Greg Wheeler
Sat Comm Prep: Kathy Hicks
Prep after 1st Srv: Russell/Lora Brown
Clean-up after 1st Srv: Mary Robey
Prep after 2nd Srv: Teresa Pendleton
Clean-up after 2nd Srv: Robert McCray
Prayer Room: Nathan Young, Laura Mullins
Ushers: D.Pettry, J.White, L.Miller, D.Feltner
August 16
Elders: Stan Stack, Nick Wallen
Deacons: Russell Brown, Jonathan Clifton
Ashland Terrace: Harold Butler
Home Comm: Cory Wilson, Steve Mullins,
Jonathan Clifton
Sat Comm Prep: David/Paula Rankin
Prep after 1st Srv: Marvis/Pam White
Clean-up after 1st Srv: Shannon/Jenni Gregg
Prep after 2nd Srv: Marvis/Pam White
Clean-up after 2nd Srv: Randall Young
Prayer Room: Jerry/Jo Brooking, Beth Kessler
Ushers: D.Moore, D.Pettry, D.Smith, S.Kearns
August 23
Elders: Danny Branham, Stan Stack
Deacons: Bill Johnson, Steve Mullins
Ashland Terrace: Ed Hall
Home Comm: Stuart Kearns, Keith Wertz,
Greg Kasten
Sat Comm Prep: Kathy Hicks
Prep after 1st Srv: Craig/Jenny Fowler
Clean-up 1st Srv: Ray/Christi Albensi
Prep after 2nd Srv: Craig/Jenny Fowler
Clean-up 2nd Srv: John Combs
Prayer Room: Mary Adkins, Gina Runyon
Ushers:B.Johnson, D.Pettry, B.Burke, J.Martin
August 30
Elders: George Heaton, Danny Branham
Deacons: David Straub, Cory Wilson
Ashland Terrace: Steven Clem
Home Comm: Henry Evans, Bill Burke,
Ken Banks
Sat Comm Prep: Mark/Gayle Fields
Prep after 1st Srv: Dale/Curlie Kistler
Clean-up 1st Srv: Fred/Emma Goode
Prep after 2nd Srv: Dale/Curlie Kistler
Clean-up 2nd Srv: Fred/Emma Goode
Prayer Room: Caroline Lewis, Kevin Hickey
Ushers: D.Moore, B.Poor, D.Smith, S.Kearns

Moving Mountains
In Matthew 17, Jesus was approached by a father whose son
was possessed by a demon. This demon would cause the boy to
have seizures or fall in fires and water. This father begged for
Jesus to have mercy on his son and to drive out this demon. And Jesus, of
course, drove out the demon. However, the disciples had already tried to cast
out the demon but failed. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast out the
demon and He answered them, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell
you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
This past year I took a Greek exegesis class,
which was my fourth and final semester of
Greek. (Thank the Lord.) We had to translate
this verse, Matthew 17:20, and I will never
forget what my professor said in the discussion.
He said something along the lines of, “we all
know that a mountain won’t literally move if
we pray even with a little bit of faith.” I stopped at that point and pondered
over what he just said. Please understand that the professor was looking at
it from an exegetical perspective. Jesus was giving an example, imagery, etc.,
to the disciples to illustrate faith. Jesus wasn’t necessarily being literal in
moving a mountain. But, think about it! I think my professor, without even
knowing it, had missed the whole point Jesus was trying to make. Jesus said,
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:3. I don’t think a child would
doubt Jesus when He said that mountains would move if they had faith,
would they? In times of today, as my professor did, we too miss Jesus’ point.
Maybe we too are like the disciples. When is the last time you prayed and
God moved a mountain? Maybe that mountain is a person who hasn’t been
moved by Jesus yet?
~ Conor Doyle
conor@tatescreek.org
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Conor Doyle - Preaching Intern

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The Fehls on Furlough
Every time we’ve come ‘home’ on furlough, we’ve
been tired. But really, it’s more than being tired.
It’s the feeling that you don’t have the energy to deal
with even one more problem. Plus, something is
missing. That “something” is a reservoir of rest and
energy.
In September when we came home we were deep tired, and we had
unanswered questions: “Where is the money going to come from for the
Addis Ababa church and office that need to be built upon our return to
Ethiopia?” “Where is Addison going to college?” “Will I enjoy teaching
the spring semester at Cincinnati Christian University?” “Will we ever feel
rested?”
But then, after a busy fall travel schedule and a successful financial appeal
for our construction needs (we raised $70,000!), we hunkered down at CCU
and fell into a rhythm that allowed us to rest. We homeschooled the kids,
I taught twice a week at CCU, Addison decided to study Engineering at the
University of Oklahoma, the kids got involved in the youth group, and Jen
and I got to go bowling.
Then one morning in March, I realized I wasn’t tired any more. God had
answered our prayers for refreshment. He had brought new life and energy
back to our imaginations. He had renewed us and restored us.
After we take Addison to college in August, we’ll head back to Ethiopia for
our fifth term. Our plans are to get busy orienting the Haley family (new to
our team) and getting construction going on the Addis Ababa church and
offices. Jen will refocus on homeschooling Mallory and Ethan while Darby
attends the Bingham Mission School.
And surely, problems that we can’t foresee or imagine right now will arise
to challenge us. But fresh from furlough, with a refilled reservoir of energy
and faith, we’ll get through whatever comes.
Please praise God with us because He is Good and Gracious! Thank you
for your continuing support of our family.
~ Adrian for all the Fehls
Missions Moment

16
Devotional Thought Week 1
THE MODEL PRAYER ~ Matthew 6:9-13
When I began my journey with the Lord (a long while
back), I heard many sermons and Sunday school lessons that
were good but overwhelming. As a new Christian, reflecting
on what was being taught and what I read in scripture during
my own quiet times, my thoughts were, “No way. How could
I possibly do all this. This is overwhelming, complicated, and I am a leaky
vessel!”
I read, prayed, pondered, and struggled with God’s word and what He
expected of me. In His Word I learned that what matters most is the heart.
What does that mean? Well, after much prayer, pondering and so forth, I
believe that Christianity is, in a nutshell, your attitude and motives toward
God, His Word, and His people. The Sermon on the Mount is a good
example.
In the 1970’s I had the privilege of being a youth sponsor. The young
people had an acronym that they used a lot at the time, K.I.S.S. (keep
it simple, stupid). I found that helpful in that when I
listened to future presentations of God’s Word and when
I was in need of God’s direction, my thought would be,
“keep it simple”. What is my attitude, what are my motives
concerning the topic?
When the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray,
His instructions seemed to reflect that. Keep it simple and
real.
The Model Prayer (The Lord’s Prayer) reflects that. May I
paraphrase please?
Heavenly Father may your holy name be honored in all I say and do.
May your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Give me each day the spiritual and physical food needed.
Forgive me for the sins I have committed against you and help me to
forgive others who have wronged me.
Keep me from temptation and save be from evil.
~ Judy Clark
Former Prayer Team Member

17
Devotional Thought Week 2
FERVENT PRAYER ~ I Samuel 1
As far back as I can remember, I knew how to put my hands together and
bow my head in prayer. I was first taught that simple prayer, “God is Great,
God is Good…”. I can still remember the peacefulness I felt in my heart as
I spoke those words. I didn’t understand what that feeling was, but I liked
it, and it made me feel safe. I know now that it was the peace and Spirit of
Jesus Christ in my heart. Even as a child, my simple prayers were heard.
As I grew older, I found that I was learning to reach out to God in a more
desperate and fervent way: pleading for miracles and healing, for direction
in my life, and for the salvation of all of my loved ones.
I have come to understand that my prayer life each day brings a different
prayer time with the Lord. Sometimes, I feel the need to be still and
meditate with the Lord while letting his Spirit lead me. I sometimes feel
the need to come to my knees and cry out to the Lord in desperation. Most
days, I feel the need to be in a “constant prayer” with the Lord. Talking to
Jesus throughout the day: in the car, at work,
while doing chores around the house or even
when I am still. I just let the Lord speak to me.
Ruth Graham once talked about the need to be
in “constant prayer” with the Lord. She said
as mothers and housewives, we are so busy
throughout the day that we generally pray ‘on the hoof’. We want to do
as Paul said “pray without ceasing”. However, we can’t possibly spend our
days on our knees. We wouldn’t get anything done! So, we stay in prayer
constantly throughout the day. This is what my prayer life has become – a
daily conversation with Jesus.
We still whisper that simple prayer at our house, “God is Great, God is
Good…”, and I know that God hears that prayer. I also know He hears our
more urgent and desperate pleas as well. Each day we are faced with more
and more challenges as Christians and only through prayer can we find
comfort and peace knowing that God is still in control.

~ Laura Mullins
Prayer Team Member

JESUS’ PRAYER ~ John 17
In John 17, Jesus’ longest recorded prayer in the Bible, we
see that Jesus had a very special relationship with our God,
His Father. In these last few minutes of his time alone with
his disciples, Jesus prayed for those that followed him to be
blessed and to continue the work after he was gone.
This powerful “red lettered” prayer by Jesus shows us once again that
Jesus was directly sent to this earth by God to fulfill his Father’s work.
Jesus’ time on this earth was not an accidental adventure, but planned
work assigned to Jesus. He was sent to be a living example of love for the
initial disciples and also for us. We can continue to mirror his example of
love daily within us and also externally through us by sharing it with the
world. Jesus understood that his life was just the beginning of his Father’s
work and that it needed to continue after he had returned to glory.
Jesus repeatedly prays that the work He began on this earth continue
through the disciples that remain. We need to
remember that he was praying for us. He prays that
we stay protected and be brought to complete unity.
As verse 23 says, “Then the world will know that you
sent me and have loved them even as you have loved
me”. We may long for heaven as Jesus did, but there
is work remaining to do on this earth so others may
know of our Father.
Let us also remember that Jesus concluded by praying that we may have
the same strong bond of love as he had with his Father. “I have made you
known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love
you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
John 17:26
We can approach this world knowing that Jesus is God’s son and that he
was sent to this world to fulfill his Father’s plan. While on this earth Jesus
shared love and the hope of eternal life. And yes, God does love us and
we need to share it with OTHERS.
~ Larry Bugg
Elder
Prayer Team Member
18
Devotional thought Week 3

SURRENDERED PRAYER ~ Matthew 26:36-46
Throughout our lives, we as Christians will most certainly
face difficulties and hardships. However, none of us will
ever have to bear the sins of the world. But, Jesus has
shown us how to strengthen our lives through prayer.
In Matthew 26:36-46, we find Jesus in the Garden of
Gethsemane where he went to pray before his pending
crucifixion. Jesus was in deep anguish as he prayed, “If
possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I
will, but as Thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39 Luke’s account
states, “He prayed earnestly; and His sweat was as if it
were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Luke 22:44 He knew He was about to die for our sins.
The cup of suffering is not taken away from him, so
he drinks it in full, obedient to the point of death. In
doing so, he teaches us willingness to follow the Father’s
plan even if it does not align with our own. In our prayers, we should ask
God for what we want, but we should also fully embrace his will for our
lives, trusting him without reservation.
In the remaining months of my husband’s life, this was my daily prayer.
After 50 wonderful years of marriage, I wanted to keep him with me for
a little longer. However, his health was failing so quickly and numerous
doctors could not help him. So instead of praying for his health to
improve, I began my prayers for God’s will to be done in his life. And so
when he passed very quickly on May 31, 2014, I knew the Lord’s will had
been accomplished. This is not what I wanted, but I had to accept God’s
will.
Like Jesus, let us learn not to follow the desires of our own heart.
Rather, let us trust in God’s will. At the end of Jesus’ time in the Garden,
He arose and told his disciples to follow Him. He knew the will of the
Father was at hand. Jesus entered the Garden in a state of suffering, but
left strengthened with His resolve. Prayer was the answer!
~ Mona Vannatter
Prayer Team Member
19
Devotional thought Week 4

Party in the Park / Backpacks
Blood Drive
Sermon DVD’s available
20
Backpacks for Julius Marks Elementary
This year we are hoping to fill 225 backpacks with school
supplies for JME. Each backpack will cost $10.
If you or your Sunday school class would like to
contribute a monetary donation to this project, please
contact the Servants for Christ class or Matt Lee for
information. We will be packing these backpacks on Wednesday, August
5, at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us for this fun time of
service and fellowship.
Friday, August 14, 2015 ~ 6:30 pm
Lansdowne - Merrick Park
(next to Julius Marks Elementary)
Join us as we host a “Party in the Park” for the
Lansdowne-Merrick Park neighborhood. For
more information or to volunteer, contact Matt
Lee at 266-1621 or matt@tatescreek.org.
DVD’s of the Sunday morning sermon are
now available. If you prefer to watch the
sermon on DVD instead of just listening
on a CD, please contact the church
office and a copy will be made for
you.
Blood Drive for the
American Red Cross
Monday, August 31 ~ 2-7 pm
TCCC Fellowship Hall

21
SHOPPING AT KROGER CAN NOW BENEFIT TCCC!
Tates Creek is approved to participate in Kroger’s Community Rewards
Program. Through this program, Kroger distributes funds back into the
community. To help Tates Creek receive a larger portion of these funds,
just sign up with your Kroger Card and identify Tates Creek Christian
Church as the charity you would like to support with your purchases. In
the 6 months we have been in the program, we have received more than
$500 with just 30 families enrolled.
For those already enrolled, Kroger requires that you re-enroll during
August each year, re-selecting your charity. If you have not yet enrolled,
simply visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com and click on SIGN UP
TODAY. This will lead you through the process of creating an online
Kroger Rewards account. Once this is set up, you can edit your ‘Kroger
Community Rewards’ information to input your Kroger Plus card number
and then name Tates Creek Christian Church (NPO #28849) as the
organization you would like to support. Once this is complete, you are
supporting TCCC with each Kroger purchase you make – as long as you
swipe your Kroger Plus card at checkout! (If you do not already have a
Kroger Plus card, you may obtain one at the customer service desk at any
Kroger store.)
If you already have a Kroger Plus card, we will be ready to help
you enroll or renew your community rewards in
August.
Bluegrass Christian
Men’s Fellowship
August 10, 2015
Catalyst Christian Church
Meal ~ 5:45 pm,
Program ~ 6:45 pm
Van will leave TCCC at 5:00 pm
Senior Adult Events
Adult Bible Study
Wednesdays ~ 10:30 am
Better With Age Club
Thursday, August 20 ~ 10:30 am
Bring side dishes, salad, or
dessert to share.
Program by Scott Collins
Better With Age Club Day Trip
Thursday, August 27
Derby Dinner Playhouse

Sunday School
Average Attendance
June 2015
Youth
Infants 7
Walkers 7
2 - 5 Year Old 12
Elementary 54
Middle & High School 48
Adult
Alpha/Omega 5
Christians in Action 24
Crusaders 50
Early Bird 8:30 am 4
Faith 16
Fellowship of Believers 11
FOCUS 16
Generations of Faith 26
Good News 27
Grace & Truth 72
Grass Roots 19
Heaven Bound 11
In The Word 20
Open Bible 56
Psalm 34:3 3
Reach 15
Seekers 9
Servants for Christ 22
Upper Room 11
Willing Workers 32
Ashland Terrace 6
Miscellaneous 6
Officers 2
Total 579
June Worship
Attendance & Giving
Total General Fund
7th 745 $36,656.
14th 748 $24,670.
21st 725 $26,567.
28th 711 $22,375.
Indebtedness
Mortgage Balance, June 30 $909,313.
Monthly Payment (July 1) $32,888.
Principal $10,348.
Interest $2,539.
Add’l Principal $20,000.
To give online anytime or
setup a recurring online gift,
visit our website at www.
tatescreek.org and click on
“Giving”.
% of Dollars Given Online
22%
General Fund Report
2015 Budgeted Need per week $31,440.
2015 Average per week $29,624.
June Total Income $110,268.
June Total Expenses $96,479.
Moved to Savings $10,129.
Net Excess $3,660.
22
Funds Totals for June
Deacons’ Fund $1,959.
“What If...” $41,412.
Victory for Life $684.

23
New Members
Jake Adkins
Baptized June 16
John & Nancy
Presko
Transfer June 28
Ethan Ray
Baptized July 5
Eric Presley
Transfer June 14
&
Ethan Presley
Baptized June 14
Sarah Wills
Baptized June 11
Angela Wills
Baptized July 1
Chelsea Stager
Transfer July 1
Elizabeth Brown
Baptized July 1
Pictures not available

TatesCreekCurrent
TatesCreekChristianChurch Office:(859)266-1621
3150TatesCreekRoadWeb:www.tatescreek.org
Lexington,KY40502 Email:office@tatescreek.org
Calendar ~ August 2015
1 & 15 Card Ministry, 8:30 am, 102
2 Monthly Ministry meetings
3 Elders’ Meeting, 6 pm, 200D
5 Backpack Pack Night, 6:30 pm, FH
6 Mary Circle, 11 am
6 Deborah Circle, 6:30 pm
8 Rachel Circle, 10:30 am
9 Generations of Faith potluck,
12:30 pm, FH
10 BCMF, 5:45 pm, Catalyst CC
10 Faith Circle, 6:30 pm, 104
10 J.O.Y. Circle, 6:30 pm, 107
11 Tabitha Circle, 7 pm
14 Party in the Park, 6:30 pm,
Lansdowne-Merrick Park
14 Willing Workers Ice Cream Social
7 pm, FH
15 FOCUS Class potluck, 12 pm, FH
16 Women’s Ministry, 4 pm, 200AB
20 BWAC, 10:30 am, FH
27 BWAC Day Trip, 9 am, Derby
Dinner Playhouse
31 Blood Drive for American Red
Cross, 2-7 pm, FH
Weekly Activities
Sunday Evening:
Evening Worship, 6:30 pm, WC
Adult Small Groups, various times
and locations
Tuesday Evening:
Victory for Life, 6:00 pm, FH
Wednesday:
Adult Bible Study, 10:30 am, 200AB
Worship Team, 6:00 pm, WC
Volume3No.8
CR-ChoirRoom/FH-FellowshipHall/Fh-FriendshipHall/MMC-MultiMinistryCenter/UP-Uptown/WC-WorshipCenter

Tates Creek Christian Church monthly Current for August 2015

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