Another Redneck Snowday

Former Youth Spotlight: Jamal Quattlebaum

I caught up with Jamal over the Christmas holiday.
Oh, I retained my composure acting all cool, but I really wanted to slobber all over him and tell him how proud I am of him and how I wish he'd come home to Mama Val's just a little bit more often. But he's a busy man. Busy, busy man...
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Jamal is currently living in Loganville, GA and working with high school youth at Graystone Church. Jamal credits former FBC Youth Pastor Jimmy Steen for where he is today. "He (Steen) reached out to me and introduced me to Look Up Lodge where I later worked on staff for three years. During those three years, I built relationships with the people who attend Graystone. Graystone brought their youth to Look Up all three of my summers."

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FBC has taken our youth to Look Up Lodge now for ten years or more. Having been on several of those trips, having my own kids attend for many years and having seen several of our youth go there to serve, I have to credit Look Up Lodge for grounding our teen agers and instilling in them the need to know what you believe and then act upon it.

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Jamal continued, "I learned so much being on staff at Look Up Lodge. The lesson that stands out in my memory is during one summer, I got extremely exhausted and I felt like I could not do one more day of camp and so I began to pray that God would replenish me and give me the drive to keep going and He did just that. So the lesson I learned is when I am weak and worn out, God is faithful enough to keep me going."

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I asked Jamal where he would like his life to be in 5 years. His reply? Full-time ministry.

"One thing that God is teaching me now is to deal in the moment and not look too far ahead. I'm sure we've all experienced a change from our plan to God's plan, and that can be extremely disappointing, so I am trying not to plan so far in advance and to enjoy what God is doing today."

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In his free time, Jamal likes to sleep, shop and hang out with friends. He has trouble turning his brain off his youth, though, when he is not actively working with them. His favorite food, anyone remember? Japanese! As he says, "I love, love, love, love, love it!" There's that bubbly exuberance we all know and love: true 100% Jamal.

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"The thing I miss most about Wagener is the community of people," Jamal explained. "There is no other place that can hold such people in one area. I still laugh when I look back on the times we all shared. (So do we, brother, so do we, just check Marj, Brielle or Erika's photos of your days here!) He continued, "Like many students after graduation, we had to separate and grow to become our own person."

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"When I die, I would like to be remembered as a guy who searched after God's very heart, just like King David. I want to love the way Jesus loves me and live the way Jesus lived."

-Despite my all cool composure, Jamal brought me to tears. We love, love, love, love, love you Jamal! You're in our prayers. Come back and visit soon.

Keep up with Jamal on his Facebook page: Brunson Jamal Quattlebaum.
And on his blog here. 

Be Intentional With 2011

Making your list and checking it twice.... are you going to be naughty or nice in 2011?

California Pastor, Justin Buzzard offers some good advice in his blog How to Prepare for 2011, basically instructing us to think hard about 2010, ask yourself some questions and then pray and plan (make a list!) for 2011. With practical observation, experiential learning and God's Spiritual guidance, you can be intentional about what you do with 2011. What is that? -- 525,600 minutes in 2011 that you are going to spend one way or another, why not think about it and spend them wisely rather than impulsively?
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Buzzard says he and his wife reviewed the previous year and prayed and planned for the next year, "We’re finding that this new tradition gives a great sense of cohesiveness, history, and focus to our life together. In the future I imagine it will be helpful to look back at these “what happened” lists and remind ourselves of how God was at work in our lives in the past." I love that because often we forget to look back and see God's hand in our lives.
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Especially for the youth -- teenagers and young adults -- if you can grasp this theory now, you can direct the rest of your life. Live with intention! Don't just float through life going wherever the waves toss you. Take the time to look for God's leading for your present and future, and His hand in your past. Buzzard credits this idea to David Allen, a master teacher of productivity.
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Here's a list of the questions Buzzard lists and he advises you to consider your answers in several areas: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Financial, Family, Community Service, Fun/Creativity/Recreation.
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Completing and Remembering 2010
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Review the list of all completed projects
What was your biggest triumph in '10? The smartest decision?
What one word best sums up and describes your '10 experience?
What was the greatest lesson you learned in '10?
What was the most loving service you performed?
What is your biggest piece of unfinished business?
What are you most happy about completing in '10?
Who were the three people who had the most influence on you?
What was the biggest risk you took? The biggest surprise?
What important relationship improved the most in '10?
What compliment would you liked to have received in '10? Given?
What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2010?
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Creating the New Year
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What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2011?
What advice would you like to give yourself?
What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2011?
What would you be most happy about completing in 2011?
What would you most like to change about yourself in 2011?
What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2011?
What about your work are you most committed to changing and improving in 2011?
What is one undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2011?
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2011?
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2011?
What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2011?

Church was canceled the day after Christmas, 2010. It was a cold, cold, wet day, it was too wet to play. What were we supposed to do? Sit in the house? To sit there with Patti, to sit there, we two, and say "how I wish we had something to do?"
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I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny! I know some good games we could play.... I know some good tricks, I will show them to you, your mother will not mind at all if I do ..."
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Former Youth Spotlight: Laura Wise

Laura Wise grew up at FBC Wagener, the daughter of Anne Linder.

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"I know that I have been commanded to go and spread His truth to the world and I will do this."

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Laura loves:

• Jesus Christ
• Singing/Music
• Look Up Lodge
• Kids
• The number 7
• Giraffes
• The color green
• Coffee

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Laura's still in the middle of her college education, but in the meantime, it isn't keeping her from ministry. Remember all those years she went with us to Look Up Lodge . . .
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Now she's a summer counselor there. Click here for her slideshow on LUL. Laura went to China in '09 on a mission trip and is headed back again in 2011. Click here to read about the upcoming trip or to financially support it.

"I do not know what my future holds in going back, but I do know that I'm excited to serve alongside and minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ. I will be traveling with a team of students from North Greenville University. Our goal is to change lives by spreading the Word of God and sharing the love story of Christ Jesus with whomever God places in our path. We will primarily be working with college age students and young adults at a university campus."

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And now, the big news, Laura has officially begun the process of applying to the IMB's Journeyman program. This is a program for people 21-26 years of age who want to commit to two years of overseas mission work. They train, then they go. It often, but not necessarily, leads to full time mission work. It also is a great way for young adults to do something life-changing before settling down with a career and family. Click here to learn more about the Journeyman program.

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Laura, we love you and miss you! Come back and visit soon.

Former Youth Spotlight: Jon Coffee

An update from former FBC youth Jon Coffee, includes his exciting new hair-do, an awesome video and really coolly carved pumpkins. Clearly, he misses us a lot. Also? Here's his blog.
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Prepare for Ski Trip '11: Gatlinburg

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It's that time again! We are starting to prepare for our Ski Trip!
January 13 - 17, 2011
And it's not just skiing. . . It's . . .

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. . . Games . . . Eating . . .
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. . . Bible Study and Praise Music on the top of a mountain . . .
(wayne pippen's mountain!)
(we love wayne pippen!!)
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. . . Snowboarding!! . . .
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. . . Carousel Rides!!?? . .
(pretty sure that wasn't on the itinerary)
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Squealy, girly-girl bonding . . .
(who's the lady in the back?)
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. . . ice skating . . .
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. . . did I mention girly-girl bonding? . . .
(. . . and developing life-long slogans like "three words")

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Friday, 1/14: Ober Gatlinburg, Skiing, tubing and ice-skating
Saturday, 1/15 - Shopping & Applebarn
Sunday, 1/16 - Pancake House, Worship Service, Nascar
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You In??

Be sure to sign up on the bulletin board at church or call the church office.
Questions?

See Vicky Tyler, Ross Smith, Michael Shealy or Doug Busbee
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