front page The

MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH www.theolivechurch.org

1533 HWY 52W, Crossett, AR 71635 PH 870.364.4057 FAX 870.304.2979

DECEMBER 2011 Volume 21, Number 12 mobc@theolivechurch.org

ehodge@theolivechurch.org ssasser@theolivechurch.org dtohlen@theolivechurch.org rhodge@theolivechurch.org

Eric page

"...just as a father corrects a child in whom

he delights." (Proverbs 3:12, NLT) Christmas is coming. Our kids are looking forward to lots of cool loot under the tree. At the same time, there must still be some boundaries and expectations upon their lives. After all, our kids are going to be given some really nice, free, no-strings- attached, gifts in a few weeks. Shouldn't they be expected in return to do their best and be the best they can be? You will be destroying your children's motivation and self-

esteem when you allow them to think that they don't have to work for anything...because it's "owed" to them. The story's told of a telemarketer who phoned a house saying, "I'd like to talk to the person who makes the final purchasing decisions for the family." The woman replied, "I'm sorry, that person is still at kindergarten and won't be home for another hour." Well, that is a funny story...but it is dangerously close to the truth these days. In many homes, mom and dad don't run the show, the kids do. Parents, we need to love our children, provide them opportunities and a safe, secure home environment, and we need to teach them that they are responsible for their life and actions and they must be grateful for what's being placed in their hands. This sounds like a no-brainer. But it's not happening in many homes. Why is that?

1. Misguided love.

So many folks will say something like, "My kids shouldn't have to struggle like I (we) did." Who in the world said that? It can be a good thing if our kids have to struggle a little - in that school subject, to make the ball or cheer team, in a relationship. Is it really good if our children never have to struggle, fight, scratch, or claw in their life? That kind of attitude will teach our kids that it's always good to take the easy way out. Children can interpret those actions to mean that we just don't have time for them. But they don't need more stuff...they need us!

2. Low Expectations

As parents, we owe our kids the opportunity to learn to excel in life. That will not happen if we do everything for them. Don't rob them of the powerful fulfillment that comes from working hard on that sports team, improving their grades, cleaning their room and earning their way a little.

3. Guilt

For some reason we think we owe our kids everything they throw a fit for. We feel like at times we are failing them. I once actually heard a church-going teenager say, "My parents 'owe' me a car." I can remember almost slapping that kid myself. Maybe that youth was kidding, maybe they weren't. But he got the car! That child's parents owed them nothing of the sort, except to make them learn to work for and be thankful for what they were getting. Don't let guilt govern or guide you wrong in raising your children. You honestly don't owe your child that toy they want! Scriptures are plain in Hebrews that "God disciplines His children." I guess that means we need to discipline ours. They'll thank us for it later. Then we can sit back and watch them excel at being the godly, faithful adults that God desires. Bless each of you this Christmas.

Remember that..."Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" I love each of

you.

From the PastorFrom the PastorFrom the Pastor

Business Meeting Sunday, December 11, 6 PM

10:30 AM Worship Sunday School Dismissed

No PM Services

David page

Youth I’m very grateful to all the youth who help to collect $700

for world hunger relief! I personally want to recognize

Emily White who raised $413 for this cause! We will

continue to do some other activities where we can help

raise other monies for world hunger relief for 2012.

LifeFocus Bible study this month will be “GOD’S

GREATEST GIFT”. We all look forward to Christmas!

Our lessons in December will help us see the essential

message of this great celebration! We will study the following, “RECOGNIZE

GOD’S GIFT”, “STRENGTHENED BY GOD’S GIFT,” “RESPOND TO

GOD’S GIFT,” and “ SHARE GOD’S GIFT”.

Also, our DT studies this month will be, “HOW TO USE YOUR HEAD TO

GUARD YOUR HEART … A 3 (D) GUIDE to making responsible media

choices,” by Walt Mueller. We will also offer this study to the parents too!

A great resource for all who see media today!

Overtime fellowships will be Dec 4th (Chips & Dip game night) and Dec 18th

(Bake, Batter, & Roll” fellowship), starting at 7pm. See you there!

On Dec 19 will be our “Christmas Caroling & White elephant

exchange,” at 6:30pm. We will sing first and then have our gift exchange

around 7:50pm. Yes, let your friends be a part of this fun time!

To our YOUNG @ HEART group, here are the opportunities of ministry and

fellowship for December.

We are taking 18 on our Branson trip Dec 1-3. Look for pictures of the trip

later this month! Our visitation with our home bound is Dec 5th @ 9am. Our

monthly meeting is Dec 12th and we will be going down to

“SAM’S @ Bastrop, LA” at @ 10:30am. Yes, invite guests to join us!

On Friday, Dec 16th, the Y&H Choir will be singing at the PILLARS at

3:30pm.

Christmas is truly a unique time for

my family because it’s about

CHRIST! We are grateful Jesus

loved us so much that He desired to

come to this earth to be MESSIAH

to our family. He became our

sacrifice so that we could have a real

relationship with God. Jesus is our

SAVIOR, OUR LORD and OUR

KING. My prayer is that He is your

SAVIOR & LORD too! If He is,

then share this gift from God! If

you know Jesus, then give that gift

to others! Let’s stay in the spirit of

Christmas by sharing this wonderful

gift every day in the New Year to

come!

Merry Christmas!

From the Tohlens

Martha Class December 6, 2011

5:30 PM @ the Nutter Home

Adult 2, Ladies 2 Class December 8, 2011

@ the Nutter Home Meet @ MOBC 6:00 PM

Adult 2, Couples 2 Class December 10, 2011

6:00 PM @ the Nutter Home

Regina/Scott page

Singing His Praises,

Music Ministry Notes

For His Kids

Saturday, Dec. 3, Journey Through Bethlehem: 1:00-6:00 PM Pecanland Mall, Monroe.

Sunday, Dec. 4, Live Nativity 6 PM.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, Movie-”The Nativity”: 6 PM.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, Jones Lake Christmas Lights & Hot Cocoa @ McDonald’s- 5:30 PM Meet @ church.

Saturday, Dec. 17, “Happy Birthday Jesus” Brunch. Wear PJ’s and bring a small toy to be given for Angel Tree.

to our DECEMBER Stars! Evan Rial - 12/13 Rachel Henry - 12/17

A Song

Christmas Musical

Presented by

Mt. Olive Adult Choir

Sunday, December 18, 2011

AM Worship

Children’s Live Nativity

December 4, 6 PM

AIR in the

Calendar page

-Services Dismissed- Sunday Night

December 25, 2011

-Church Office Closed- for Christmas Holiday

December 22 & 26, 2011

HIS HEART HIS HANDS HIS VOICE

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

7 AM Young at Heart Christmas Lights at Branson

2

3 1-6 PM Journey Through Bethlehem at Monroe

4 Regular Services

6 PM Children's Live Nativity

7 M Youth Overtime Game

Night

5

9 AM Young at Heart

Homebound Ministry

6:30 PM Exercise Class

6

5:30 PM Martha SS Class Christmas at the Nutter home

7 Regular Services 6 PM Children

Movie “The Nativity”

8

6:30 PM Exercise Class

6 PM Adult 2, Ladies 2 SS

Class Christmas at the Nutter

home

9

10 6 PM Adult 2, Couples 2 SS

Class Christmas at

the Nutter home

11 Regular Services

4 PM Deacons

PM Business Meeting

12

11:30 AM Young at

Heart Monthly

Meeting @ Sam’s in Bastrop

6:30 PM

Exercise Class

13

14 Regular Services 5:30 PM Meet @ MOBC Jones’ Lake Christmas Lights & Hot Cocoa @ McDonald’s

15

6:30 PM Exercise Class

16 3:30 PM

Young at

Heart sing at

The Pillars

17 “Happy Birthday

Jesus” Brunch

18 Regular Services

9:20 AM Christmas Musical

7 M Youth Overtime

19 6:30 PM Youth

Christmas Caroling/

White Elephant

Fellowship

6:30 PM Exercise Class

20

21 Regular Services

22

23

24

25

Merry Christmas

10:30 AM Christmas Worship

Sunday School Dismissed

26 3:30 PM MOBC Service at Stonegate Villa

27 2 PM

Young @ Heart Choir

Practice & Desserts

28 Regular Services

29 30 31

December

Back page

Thank you notes have been received from the following and are on the bulletin board:

Caurene Pierce

Joyce Wilcox

THANK YOU

CHURCH STAFF ERIC S. HODGE, Pastor

DAVID TOHLEN, Assoc Pastor, Students

SCOTT SASSER, Min. Music / Worship

REGINA HODGE, Min. Children / Preschool

LEAH HENDRIX, Church Secretary

VICKI SHIRLEY, Financial /Asst. Secretary

MELISSA JONES, Building Supervisor

General Officers

Preschoolers

Children

Youth

Adults

New Members

Visitors

TOTAL

WORSHIP TOTAL

DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING

3

16

15

17

79

5

135

187

45

4

15

17

17

88

141

187

40

3

15

17

23

94

10

162

198

35

4

15

15

22

84

7

147

192

47

6 SUNDAY SCHOOL

13 20 27 ENR

4

29

45

51

293

422

VITAL SIGNS/ NOV

STEWARDSHIP 11,191.42

6,657.10

8,223.28

5,178.81

Receipts on 11/6

Receipts on 11/13

Receipts on 11/20

Receipts on 11/27

December Deacon Visitation Royce Harville, Don Wilcox

Sunday, December 4

NURSERY Toddlers Babies Anita Wilcox Carolyn Sasser Melissa Hill C. Pennington

PM Anita Wilcox, Marjorie Harville

KID’S WORSHIP Trudy Barnett, Gina Dodd

Sunday, December 11

NURSERY Toddlers Babies Hester Hickman Carol Baunget Ann Nutter Alice Woods

PM Anita Wilcox, Sherri Strickland

KID’S WORSHIP

Gina Dodd, Casey wilson

Sunday, December 18

NURSERY Toddlers Babies Denise Ford Anita Wilcox Melissa McCone Helen Stagg

PM Anita Wilcox, Clyde Farmer

KID’S WORSHIP Casey Wilson, Regina Hodge

Sunday, December 25

NURSERY Toddlers Babies Cindy Hamilton Donna Woods Anita Wilcox Amanda Martin

PM Services Dismissed

KID’S WORSHIP Children Attend Worship W/Parent

VOLUNTEERS

SYMPATHY The staff and church family of Mt. Olive Baptist Church expresses sincere and heart felt sympathy to the following:

Jolaine Crouch Family

Grace Fields Family

Beatrice Rice Family

Lewis Wilcox Family - uncle of

Don Wilcox, brother-in-law of

Joyce Wilcox

Mt. O

live Bap

tist Ch

urch

1533 H

wy 52 W

C

rossett, A

R 71635

NEW MEMBERS

By Letter

Adam Moyer

By Statement

Colleen Holst

TH

E M

ES

SE

NG

ER

- PR

INT

ED

MO

NT

HLY

Return S

ervice Requested

By Baptism

Cole Moss