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June 2011

Ignite
In God, nothing is too extreme.

Millville Avenue Church of the Nazarene 308 Millville Avenue Hamilton, OH 45013 www.millvillenaz.org

A Letter From a Soon to Be Pineapple Upside Down Cake


Tracy Carpenter

As a new member to this mercy, when my time on earth wrappers, God whispered to me
congregation, let me start off by is through, I will be a completed “Ignite.” As a self proclaimed
saying what a privilege it has pineapple upside down cake word geek, I played with the
been growing in Christ with all able to say confidently , “Stick a letters until God again
of you. In the almost eight toothpick in me, I am done!” whispered, “In God, Nothing is
months we have been too extreme.”
All humor (and baked goods)
attending this church, I have aside, I consider it an honor to Think about that. In God,
experienced God in a new and be a part of this newsletter. I NOTHING is too extreme.
real way. spent a good while Matthew 19:26 reads, “With
Like many, I have a long way to brainstorming, trying to come man, this is impossible. But
go…if I were a cake, there are up with a title that with God, all things are
still a couple eggs to be cracked encompasses what I feel our possible.” ALL things. We just
before I am even ready to be church strives to stand for. have to admit we are mere
put in the oven. But God is the lumpy batter in need of a baker.
Finally, at two o’clock in the
ultimate baker, and my hope morning, my desk flooded with I look forward to continuing my
and prayer is by his grace and Diet Coke cans and Reese Cup baking process with you all.

Easy as “ ABC”: The Missing Letter in the Alphabet of Salvation


Tracy Carpenter follows:
A.: Admit you’re a Sinner So we know it is not our own works
Imagine : A funeral home is that save us, but God’s grace and
packed with mourning guests and B.: Believe in Jesus mercy alone. When used
colorful flowers symbolizing effectively, the sinner’s prayer can
C.: Confess that Jesus is Lord
family and friends’ condolences. be a good tool to lead someone to
As the preacher stands to make Although the ones that follow Christ. However, nowhere in the
the eulogy, he tells the grief this formula have the best of Bible does it mention the sinner’s
Want to contribute stricken crowd, “Please do not intentions, I feel there is a prayer. So, then, how do we know
worry. This man is in heaven. I missing letter in this alphabet: R we are saved? The Bible clearly
an article to Ignite? know this because when he was for REPENT. Unfortunately, so tells us it is by our fruits. Matthew
Email it to Tracy Carpenter at twelve years old, I led him in the many people cling to the fact 7:15-20 reads, “Watch out for false
ABC prayer, and he asked Jesus they prayed a prayer one time in prophets. They come to you in
tracycarpenter623@yahoo.com into his heart.” The man’s tearful their life, but their life is not sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they
mother clings to the hope that changed, outwardly or inwardly. are ferocious wolves. By their fruit
her son lying in the coffin is now Ephesians 2:8 tells us “For it is by you will recognize them. Do
rejoicing with Jesus. grace you have been saved, people pick grapes from
through faith--and this not from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
The ABC’s of salvation is a
yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Likewise every good tree bears
formula used by many to lead
others to Christ. It reads as good fruit, but a bad tree bears
Ignite Page 2 of 7

(cont.) bad fruit. A good tree


someone is or is not saved. If them hanging onto an
cannot bear bad fruit, and a
you are unsure about the unfinished alphabet.
bad tree cannot bear good salvation of someone, then you
fruit. Every tree that does not should pray for that person, ask There is a reason approximately
bear good fruit will be thrown God to work in a person's life, 80 percent of Americans claim
in the fire. Thus, by their fruit, and ask the Lord to give you to be Christian. One reason is
you will recognize them.” wisdom.” However, leading a many of these people, I am
person into the ABC prayer confident, prayed a prayer to
Who am I to say who is saved while neglecting the R can really Jesus when they were five years
and who isn’t? As stated by do major damage. One might old and now continue living in
article contributor for CARM even be so bold to say that their sinful ways as an adult.
(Christian Apologetics and having person believe they are Jesus says in Matthew 7: 21,
Research Ministry)Matt Slick, saved when in reality they “Not everyone who says to me
“We must be very careful not to simply prayed a prayer sends a ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the
be too judgmental too quickly. soul to hell. It is our obligation kingdom of heaven, but only
It is a serious thing to say that as followers of Christ to mentor he who does the will of my
the new believer, and not leave father who is in heaven.”

Food Pantry, Clothing Closet, and Feed My Sheep: How You Can Help
Debbie Earls

We have been working on various


The application will ask for the
projects to raise money for our
rewards program number. That Help Feed My Sheep by Feeding
food pantry/clothes closet , and
is the #605463. That number will Your Mouth
the Feed my Sheep ministry.
link the credit card to our
rewards program for church. The We are going to have a fundraiser
“Charge it, Please.” rewards are for purchases made at Walt's Barbecue on Main
at Meijers or at the gas station. If Street on Monday, June 27th
We are registered with the Meijer you use the credit card at the from 6:00-9:00. We will get 10
Community Rewards program. For Meijer's gas station, you will also percent of what is taken in during
our church members that have a receive 5 cents off per gallon. I that time. We would also get 10
Meijer's credit card already, they have the information if anyone percent of carry out orders if
can call 1-800-962-7011 & ask for needs it. They can call me at people don't want to dine in. We
their credit card to be connected work 867-8699 or email me at need to have a good turn out for
to our church program #605463. coxsaddlery@netzero.com. I this. I will be asking for some of
For every dollar that is spent at applied online for my credit card our adults and teens to help out
Meijer's or at the Meijer's gas which was easy & quick. They that night. We have to bus tables
station & paid for with their can also apply in the store. The
and refill soft drinks. We will also
main thing is that they use our
Meijer's credit card, the church will be passing out flyers for our
church number so the credit card
receive a 1 percent credit to our church and the "Feed my Sheep".
rewards is connected to our
account. After we get $100.00 church rewards program. If they We are also going to cont.) have a
worth, they will send us a check. If don't want a credit card or have donation jar set out. This is a
someone doesn't have a Meijer's the Meijer 1 card, we get a half a great opportunity for us to raise a
credit card, but would like to have lot of money for the church
percent when that card is
one, they can apply at the store or basement renovation for the
swiped. They would need to call
online at food.
the 800 number to have this
www.meijer.com/creditcard.
card connected to our account.
Page 3 of 7 Ignite

(cont.) Rewards, and Good Wholesome


Merchandise
Seven Things to Do During a Boring Sermon
We have also signed up for the rewards
program that Family Christian offers. (Taken from “101 Things to Do During a Dull Sermon”
Christie will be printing up the cards for our by Tim Sims and Dan Pegoda)
members to present when they purchase
something from Family Christian. The way  Pass a note to the organist and see if he/she takes
theirs works is they will give us back 5 requests.
percent of what we spend. Their reward is a  Slap your neighbor. See if they turn the other cheek. If
credit for their store for purchases that we not, raise your hand and tell the preacher.
need to make there for church supplies,  Devise ways of climbing into the balcony without using
VBS, etc. the stairs.
Mark Your Calendars!  Sit in the backrow with a handful of marbles under the
th pew ahead of you. After the service, credit yourself
June 27 , 6:00-9:00
with ten points for every marble that made it to the
Fundraiser at Walt’s
front of the pew.
Barbeque  Whip out your hankie and blow your nose. Vary the
On Main Street in Hamilton! pressure exerted on each nostril and trumpet out a
rendition of your favorite hymn.
 By unobtrusively drawing your arms up into your
sleeves, turn your shirt around backwards.
 Choose a different song that was announced and begin
singing it as loud as you can.

Women’s Ministry: Where We Are, and Where We’ve Been


Pat Presley
pair of shoes to create new planned agenda. I wanted them to
I became the president of the footsteps along the journey and I know that God has a purpose and a
women's ministry in the fall of was excited. Women's Ministry plan for each of us individually and
2006. A few weeks before I took in our church has had a long as a ministry. I gave them a survey
the leadership role, I felt God history of faith and service to find out what areas they would
speaking to me again about and I wanted to continue to like us to venture into as a ministry.
leading women. I have always build on that. Not only did I want Overwhelmingly, we had a request
had a passion for working with our ministry to provide a social to start a Food Pantry/Clothes
women. When Sally Baker outlet for our ladies, but also, to Closet. Leaders emerged, we have “I also knew God would
called to ask me to pray about provide new opportunities for worked over these years, and on
provide a new pair of
taking this position I told her I ministry. One of the first things I September 11th plan to move our
didn't have to because God had did was to schedule a monthly fully operational pantry to the old shoes to create new
already been speaking to me! meeting. At that meeting I church basement. Now that is footsteps along the
How awesome is that?! explained that we would be worthy of praise! way….”
meeting every month on the Remember…Women’s
I knew that I would be following second Tuesday at 6:30. Meeting 2nd Tuesday of
in the footsteps of some
Every Month! Come join us
awesome ladies: Sally, Wanda, Our ministry theme would be
and many more. I also knew 'Chosen to Bear Lasting Fruit'
for praise and fellowship!
that God would provide a new based on John 15. We would
have food, fellowship and a
Ignite Page 4 of 7

close with a great season of


(cont.) Our ministry does not prayer. One of the gifts of this Jealous Eve
require membership and is
ministry is watching the lives of
open to all ladies of all ages to our ladies as they grow closer When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights,
just come as you are.
to their God. Passion for a Eve became upset. "You're running around with
ministry area springs ups where other women," she charged.
We love God, we love each God leads and they are open to
other, and we have a great
His leadership. Come join us "You're being unreasonable," Adam responded.
time. At our meetings we pray, and see where God may be
we have a devotional, we "You're the only woman on earth." The quarrel
leading you. You are welcome
discuss any needs of the church and we are eager to hear your continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be
that we can supply, and we awakened by someone poking him in the chest.
new ideas to make us an even
have activities such as crafts, more vibrant ministry in His
chat sessions, and even service. It was Eve. "What do you think you're doing?"
fashion. Often we will have a Adam demanded.
guest come in. Then we usually
"Counting your ribs," said Eve.
The Interrogation of Pastor Todd :
The Ten Questions That Will Make it or Break it
A. This is probably the easiest that I had. We spent everyday
Q. If you could have an endless supply
question for me to answer. It together playing, exploring, and
of any food, what would you get?
would be Australia. It has always getting into trouble. We spent
A. I am very much a steak and potato been a dream of mine to visit this every moment together. There
guy, so as long as I could eat those two country. I have wanted to go there are now the people I have not
together, that would be awesome. I since I was a kid. Someday I will seen in years. I just miss being a
don’t discriminate against any steak; I make it there. kid and my friends I had.
will eat porterhouse, filet mignon, or
Q. What is your favorite ice Q. You’ve just been hired to a
New York Strip.
cream? promotions position at General
Q. If you were an animal, what would Mills Company. What would
you be and why? A. Always and forever it will be you put in a new breakfast
mint chocolate chip, crème de cereal box as a gimmick?
A. I know that you all are thinking I mint(especially Flubs!)
would say deer, by no way. They get A. Seeing how I love Lucky
hunted. I don’t want to die. I would Q. If you had to describe yourself Charms the best, I think I would
choose an eagle, because they are so in three words, it would be: add a new marshmallow charm
majestic, and God has so many A. Dedicated, true, compassionate to the cereal, a golden cross.
references to them in the Bible. What an opportunity to simply
Q. What is your favorite bumper put Jesus out there for all
Q. What is your favorite cartoon sticker? children.
character, and why?
“I have wanted to go there A. “In the event of rapture this car Imagine how the commercial
A. This is a two part question for me, will be unmanned.” would look. I can see Lucky
since I was a kid. Someday
because I like old cartoons, as well as running from the two kids trying
I will make it there.” new ones out of today. Rolling old style, Q. If you had to eat a raccoon,
to catch him and get his pot of
I would have to pick Elmer Fudd. I guess how would you cook it? gold. They are cruising though
because he was a determined hunter, A. I know it sounds funny and the woods past the charms until
but not exactly the brightest one out gross, but I would definitely make they come to this wondrous
there. I also like Phineas and Ferb and cross shining in front of them.
jerky out of it.
how everyday is a new adventure in They stop, mesmerized by its
their lives . Q. Name one thing you miss about beauty, and the commercial
being a kid? ends by saying, “They found the
Q. If you could visit any place in the real treasure, will you?”
world, where would you choose to go A. I would have to say the friends
and why?
Page 5 of 7 Ignite

Sowing Seeds to Reap the Harvest


Josh Carpenter
civilian pursuits, since his aim is to The typical tract preaches a message that
nd
st nd
The Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy & please the one who enlisted him” (2 assures the reader that if he or she says the
Titus) are probably the most unique of the Tim. 2:4 ESV). Like a good soldier, the sinner’s prayer, they will be saved. This is
epistles because Paul’s message was believer is to be willing and able to simply not true. It is not that easy. Paul
directed toward individuals instead of an establish his or her priorities. The point reminds us in Romans that being a follower
nd
entire church. 2 Timothy is the most Paul is trying to make is the fact that of Christ costs us our life. This is not to say
unique out of the three because it soldiers are disciplined in a way in we are saved by works, but it is to say that
encapsulates Paul’s last words before being which their priorities are clear and confessing with our mouths is often the
martyred under the emperor Nero. Paul not executed quickly and out of necessity. easy part, believing in Christ enough to
only wrote a letter wrought with emotion, Oh, how entangled we can become, declare him savior of not only ourselves,
but this was his final opportunity to convey from time to time, in worldliness, but everyone else is a message that a
to Timothy what he felt was most important justifying it by means that we would quarter-page tract fails to convey. Trying to
that he should know. In the second chapter consider ludicrous if we were to just pack the power of witnessing for God into
nd
of 2 Timothy, Paul’s lesson centered upon step back a test ourselves with such a tiny message because of a quantity
being a believer active in service. That is, a scripture. There is spiritual warfare over quality mindset may be well-
teaching on what the duty and activity of taking place, brothers and sisters. intentioned, but it is wrong and it is not
the believer ought to be. He does this quite There is winning and there is losing. So going to cut it in today’s world. As Paul is
well by contrasting the believer with other let us follow what Paul says to the testimony to this through his adoption of
well-known roles of society. church of Ephesus and fasten our belt Timothy, we must not only cast the seeds,
of truth and breastplate of but stick around to cultivate them.
righteousness, lace up our boots of
Paul refers to Timothy as his son – not in the
readiness, grip tight the shield of faith, As believers, we are farmers. We are not
physical sense, but in the spiritual sense.
strap on our helmets of salvation and merely sowers of seed, preaching the
Timothy found Christ through Paul’s
sheath the sword of the Spirit to begin gospel to those who do and do not want to
ministry and therefore Paul became his
winning those battles we would have hear it, but we are also charged with
mentor. Feeling as if he was a father figure,
lost, lest we not have prioritized our making sure that we cultivate those
the first piece of advice Paul gave Timothy
lives to serve Christ. seedlings that spring up from the seeds we
was to “…be strengthened by the grace that
cast. A million people could be saved, but
is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1 English
In verse 5, Paul contrasts the Athlete unless we have as many disciples to
Standard Version). But, what does it mean
and the believer. During the time Paul minister, mentor and council them, we are
to be strengthened by the grace that is in
was writing this, the Greco-Roman not reaping the full potential of the
Jesus? Grace is what bridges the gap
world had been significantly influenced harvest.
between us and God and faith is what
by athletic games. It was not just the
allows us to move toward God. To be
Olympics; there were regional games In my twenty-some years as a Nazarene,
strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus
similar to the Olympics that took place studying the Word is an activity not many
means to quit taking steps back when things
throughout the areas the Apostles Christians particularly know how to do.
get tough, be honest with God, admit when
evangelized. Because athletics were so Simply reading your Bible, Daily Bread in
you are wrong and seek forgiveness from all
engrained within the culture, this is an hand, may be necessary for you to start
involved. The grace of God covers you as a
important comparison in the sense that your morning, but it is a stretch to think
believer. Therefore, there is no good reason
the reader could identify with the that it gets your hands as dirty as reading a
to be disappointed in yourself while you are
writer. Timothy in reading this knew biblical commentary by Wesley, Calvin or
walking with Christ. Because if you walk
that the athlete could not cut corners Arminius. Under the subheading, Paul
with the strengthening grace of Christ, your
because his objective was to be and highlights the ultimate goal of studying the
faith leads you to righteousness, but if you
beat the best of the best. Cutting Word. He tells Timothy to be a diligent
enter through the wide gate, taking your
corners would only be hurting the student and to be able to use the Word.
own way, as Jesus tells us in Matthew,
athlete, not helping him. The Bible was not meant to have verses
destruction awaits you.
plucked out here and there, taking some
Similarly, this rings true for Christians. and leaving some. It was meant to be
Next, Paul compares the believer to a
Condensed gimmicks like tracts that taught in its entirety. We must be able to
soldier. “No soldier gets entangled in
are often left as a tip, water down the rightly divide the entire Word of God.
necessity for and urgency of salvation.
Ignite Page 6 of 7

More than Food: One Volunteer’s


(cont.) Like Paul with Timothy, we Perspective of Feed My Sheep Ministry
should strive to help new believers Finally, in verses 24 and 25 Paul
get a logical and rational answer for compares the believer to a servant,
nearly every question they have. gentle unto all men. Serving both
those in need and those without Sandee Beckett will be the first person
There are a lot of good answers,
needs, but most importantly, serving to tell you about Feed My Sheep, and
most of the time all we have to do is
God. By introducing the servant into how it has blessed so many, including
seek, ask or open our eyes.
the chapter’s illustration, Paul creates herself.
“Let go and let God” is something I a paradox. Essentially, we are told to
be both a servant and a soldier. Q. When did you start attending Feed
regularly see in picture frames on
My Sheep? Were your expectations
the walls of many Christians
before starting this ministry different
throughout my life. To let go and let In many ways, these two roles are than they are now?
God is to be an empty vessel. But polar opposites. The soldier is violent,
what does that mean? It is to agree representing power and control and A. I have been attending since it began
that you will follow God at any cost. the servant, passive, powerless and last year. My expectations haven’t
And not only is God looking for controlled. So, how should we take really changed, since I typically dream
empty vessels, He is also looking for this paradox? We are told to stand and big. Besides, it is God, not me. It is
those vessels that are clean. He fight like the best soldiers. Yet, we are about learning to be obedient to his will.
seeks those who throw aside the also told to serve others, stepping
lusts of their youth, putting away away from all the bickering and Q. What can people expect, both
foolish questions and bickering, methods making the Christian life volunteers and community members,
shifting their focus on the essentials easier and more compatible with our when attending a Wednesday night
– spreading the gospel and making ways. When we are confronted with a dinner?
disciples! Verses 20-21 highlight the challenge, we stand and fight for the
importance of focusing on holiness, truth, but within that fight we must A. Good food, good company, and good
demanding that we strive to be also practice humility, respecting words from the Bible. You get to sit at a
strong in the grace of God, realizing others’ opinions. Perseverance and table like you are at home and are
and searching ourselves for ways to patience is key. Remember, Rome served like you are at home or a
serve God in accordance to His wasn’t built in a day. restaurant, not in a line like a soup
perfect will for our lives.
kitchen or army. The menu is posted on
the door and EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

(cont.) Q. In your opinion, what makes donations. On a whim, I went to the


community members (and volunteers, for Marriott Hotel in Hamilton one day to talk
that matter) keep coming back to Feed My to the chef. The chef donated trays and A. Faith, Hope and Love.
Sheep? trays of food. So God is definitely moving,
and using people to carry out this ministry. Q. If you had a magic want (or an all
A. The needs they have to serve each other. access pass to God’s prayer bag), what
I am so happy to see the members of the Q. What are some ways you have seen God impact would you like this ministry to
church participate with strangers who have move in this ministry? make on the community?
less. We are giving more than food. We
take care of each other. We genuinely miss I have seen a father and daughter talk after A. I want to see people from all walks of
people when they are not there. ten years of not speaking to one another. I life continuing to come together to help
have also witnessed a fellow church one another!
Q. What are some current needs of the member pray with this man and ask for
ministry? God’s forgiveness. I also continue to watch
as every week food is provided, sometimes
A. Financial assistance to continue the effortlessly.
program, and continued donated food to
serve the meals. However, God continues Q. What are three words to describe the
blessing us in the food department. We way you feel after leaving a Wednesday
have had more than enough thanks to night dinner?
Page 7 of 7 Ignite

Creative Corner of the Cross


Dedicated to Using our God Given Writing Abilities to Glorify Him

Definitions
Tracy Carpenter
time”, at one time, was when I was nineteen and freshly baptized in a
tub of cold water in front of mostly strangers who applauded me
In my life, before Christ and now, things have happened. Things out of anyway. This time, I knew, I would get this Christian thing right. And
my control, things completely in my control and everything in before that still, “this time” was when I was freshly saved at fourteen,
between. And these things have come to define me. For example, I surrounded by other freshly saved fourteen year olds whose unity in
wrote my first story, “The Ice Cream Girl”, when I was eight years old. Christ inevitably had to be left behind a that camp as we departed on
This poorly illustrated, misspelled piece of writing about a girl who a hot bus back to the homes we were escaping from in the first place.
ate too much ice cream and eventually turned into an ice cream cone And I, like many others, put on my low cut tank top, globbed on my
caused my third grade teacher to laugh out loud and to share my too thick make-up, and ran back into the arms of a boy who said he
words with the rest of the class. That moment, though perhaps small, loved me, and back into a world that, at the time, appeared easier to
forever defined a part of me. It was then that a fire was built inside of embrace.
me that, though years have tried to dim, has never been completely
extinguished. Hundreds of “this times” later, here I am, twenty seven, married with
a daughter…still struggling with the simple concepts that are mapped
As a young girl, I strived to be the best writer I could be. I wrote in out in the Bible tracks left by Sunday morning church goers for
school. I wrote at home. I wrote when I knew I should have been Sunday morning waitresses who believe they are in more need of rent
doing something else. And then I grew up. Not really sure when that money than a Savior….
happened, but as sure as I sit here, I sit here as an adult, not longer
holding a pencil and notebook, but broken dreams and a mortgage. I’ve followed Christ whole heartedly for about eight years now, and,
though intellectually I can define (and even partly recognize) God’s
I know I have never been the best (fill in the blank.) Friend. Daughter. grace and mercy, I have yet found the magic wand that will allow
Sister. Cousin. Employee. Wife. These titles, written boldly in myself to let go of myself to be defined by it. Because the definition of
permanent ink, stare at me daily as a reminder of the responsibilities I God’s grace and mercy after eight years of being a defined “believer”
have acquired since being eight years old. And every morning when I should be, certainly not perfected, but at least instigated in this eight
wake up, too impatient to wait for my coffee to cool, yet facing a year believer’s footsteps. The straight and narrow path has yet to
freezer full of empty ice trays, I am again faced with my arrogance make room for these big headed feet of mine I clumsily trip over on a
and jumbled priorities; living a life jam packed with putting things off daily basis.
that should have been done a long time ago, and hurrying to
complete mundane, irrelevant tasks to impress the eyes of the world. I am no longer an eight year old child who is defined by a girl turned
A world that continues to amaze me, frighten me and leave me in ice cream cone. This eight year old can no longer can write her way
despair, all in the same breath. And yet, in a world that is as wavering out of a fallen world.
as the people who reside in it, I so many times have put my trust in its
inconsistencies only to be surprised when it lets me down. Here I am, stripped and undefined. Imperfect yet perfected by His
blood. And I still don’t know exactly what that means. But I want it. I
How can I be the best “fill in the blank” when personal battles of need it.
loneliness, depression, anxiety, addiction, inadequacy and fear have,
over time, left me (not surprisingly) lonely, depressed, anxious, Hand over the pencil. You are not the writer. I am. I define you. I dot
addicted, inadequate, and fearful still? How can I be the best anything your i’s. I cross your t’s. I erase the mistakes you made, and make, and
when the most important blank, Child of God, is written meekly in will make. I will rewrite your “this time”, and next time, and time and
pencil, only to be erased, rewritten, and erased again? time and time again….

Of course, each time it is rewritten, there is every intention of


dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s correctly “this time.” Though “this

Do you want to contribute to “Creative Corner of the Cross?” We accept short stories, poetry
essays, and anything else God inspires you to write (up to 1200 words.) Email submissions to
Tracy Carpenter at tracycarpenter623@yahoo.com

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