March 3 - 9, 2010 Volume 3 – Issue 8
A word from our Pastor:
Child Abuse
I’m currently reading a book entitled, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, by Tedd Tripp. I sincerely wish Ihad read it six years ago. I do not know that I have ever read a book that has so thoroughly convicted
me and helped me at the same time. It should be required reading for every parent in the church.
In one of the early chapters, Tripp is discussing the difference between “punitive” discipline and
“corrective” discipline. I want you to read the following quote:
We, therefore, correct our children when they irritate us. When their behavior doesn’t irritate us, we
don’t correct them. Thus, our correction is not us rescuing our children from the path of danger; it is
rather us airing our frustration. It is us saying to them, “I am fed up with you. You are making me mad.
I am going to hit you, or yell at you, or make you sit on a chair in isolation from the family until you
figure out what you did wrong.” What I have just described is not discipline. It is punishment. It is
ungodly child abuse.
After that paragraph, I put the book down, shut my office door, and I asked God to forgive me for
abusing my children. I also asked God to help me be a better parent. I was convicted that I have been
correcting my children most often when they have aggravated me, not when they have transgressed thelaw of God. And even when the offense has been a transgression of the law of God and a personal
transgression, I have sought to make my children fear me instead of pointing them to God.
Tripp makes a good point from James 1:19-20 which says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every
person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce therighteousness of God” (emphasis mine). He goes on to say, “Any change in behavior that is producedby such anger is not going to move your children toward God. It moves them away from God. It moves
them in the direction of the idolatry of fearing man.” Ouch. He adds this helpful bit, “If you correct and
discipline your children because God mandates it, then you need not clutter up the task with your anger.
Correction is not your showing anger for their offenses; it is rather reminding them that their sinful
behavior offends God.”
So, parent, how are you doing in disciplining your children with the goal of making them godly? Do
you whip or yell at your children so that they will not aggravate you or embarrass you? Does the
discipline you wield make them understand that, ultimately, both you and they are accountable to a
Holy God for your actions? Tedd Tripp says in his book that a responsible, loving parent will spank
their children, but they will not do it out of personal vindictiveness and anger if they want to point their
child towards Christ.
There are no perfect parents, but by the grace of God, we can be better parents. May the Lord teach us
to discipline our children in a way that will lead them towards Christ and not away, may He grant us
the wisdom to speak truth into their lives, and may He give us the patience not to muddy the way with
ungodly outbursts of anger against our precious little children.
Announcements:
• 5 Days of Service – March 15 – 19. See Drew for details.
• M.U.D. Pheasant Shoot– Saturday, March 13. Cost $200. All donations support M.U.D. Ministries.Contact Eric Hixon for more details.
• Crisis Pregnancy Center is raising money and you can help. There are baby bottles in the churchoffices that they are asking us to fill with spare change. See Jennifer Dixon if you have any
questions.
• Sunday Morning Snacks – Please see Denise Bledsoe to sign up to bring snacks for Sundaymorning.
• Track Ministry – If you would like to help with the Track Ministry, please see Ron Champion.
Praise/Prayer Requests:
• Pray for Penny Roney, Steve Hellums’ sister. Penny has a Craniopharyngioma. That's a benigntumor that affects the pituitary gland causing hormone imbalance and headaches. It can also put
pressure on the optic nerve, causing vision problems. The good news is that it isn't cancerous. The
bad news is that she may have to deal with the affects of the tumor for life. Please pray for the
doctors that the Lord will lead them to the best treatment.
• Pray for the Seckel’s grandson, Ethan, who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
• Pray for Gloria Childress’ brother, James Pierce, who is in kidney failure and not doing well.
• Pray for Denise Bledsoe’s mother, Shirley McLendon, who is in congestive heart failure. Pleasepray for Denise as she is trying to help her mother as much as possible.
• Pray for Ruth Thompson, Wanda Parker’s mother. Pray for her husband, Dalton, as he cares forher.
• Pray for those with cancer: Linda Duran.
Missions:
M.U.D. Ministries:
If you are interested in supporting M.U.D. Ministries, please contact Eric Hixon at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Volunteers for this week:
Sunday Morning:
1’s and 2’s – Jim Parker/Chris Knight
3’s and 4’s – Janice Gray/Haley Coy
Food:
Sweet – Kathy Coy
Salty – Ellen Sims
Last Sunday Stats – February 28, 2010:
Attendance: Worship Service - 71
Offering: General - 2,475.00
Birthdays:
Saturday, March 6 – Charlie Fields
Sunday, March 7 – Shelby Godwin
New Covenant Baptist Church – www.DiscoverNewCovenant.com
104 W. Alabama Avenue, Suite A - Albertville, AL 35950
256-849-2454
Sunday:
9:30am – Sunday School
10:30am - Worship Service
6:00pm – Community Groups
Wednesday:
11:30am – Men’s Bible Study
6:00pm - Children’s Activities
6:00pm – Student Activities
6:00pm – Adult Bible Study
Pastor – Brad Williams Family Pastor – Drew Dixon
Our mission and passion at New Covenant Baptist Church is to glorify God by becoming a community that
fosters the love of God with all of the heart, soul, mind and strength, and by learning to love one another as Christ
Jesus has loved us. The answer to every heart's need and the satisfaction of all our longing is found in Jesus Christ
our Lord, who is Himself the very image of Almighty God. We exist to adore Him, and to spread the knowledge
of His greatness to the ends of the earth.
