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Welcome to "A Grace Place":     *Bible Centered*     *Family Oriented*     *Open to all people*     *Loving and Accepting*     *Mission Minded*
                                                         
UPCOMING EVENTS:                                                                                                                  Check out Dr. Hoffman's Sermons on the Weekly Teaching Link

40 WEEKS OF SHARING BEGINS SEPTEMBER 18th

               (See Update from Finance Committee)

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE BLANKET DRIVE

GIFTS FROM THE HEART AUCTION - FEBRUARY 11TH  -  4PM

     I am writing on Tuesday the 22nd of November.  Mom passed away on the 16th of November one day short of being 4 months since Dad passed away.  We had a memorial service for her on the 19th of November in St. Augustine, Florida.  Remarkably, all my children, grandchildren and Teresa were able to be there, divine destiny.  Mom will be laid to rest tomorrow the 23rd of November, one day and one month since Dad was laid to rest, in Atlanta, Georgia at Westview Cemetery where my dad and brother are buried.

     I will not take use of this forum to perform some type of catharsis.  But, I have much gratitude and thankfulness for the generosity, prayer and affection our church family has shown my family and me personally.  And, much thanks to those who read my words and are praying for my family from journeys before.

     Much lies heavy on my heart and time will have to be the muse the Holy Spirit uses for healing and articulation.  I am a void held together by the web of the Holy Spirit.  And, the Spirit of God moves upon the deep to bring light out of darkness, joy out of tears and lifts us out of the miry clay and sets us upon the Solid Rock.  But, it is a process not a product.  I am humbled to walk the journey with you.

I thought I once loved with all the joy and madness exercised,                                                  For now the journey brings loss without reimbursement,
But it was only a mirage, a tease of something far away,                                                           And the depth and reality of love has been embodied
I thought I once grieved with all the darkness and pain embodied                                              With loss upon loss and grief upon grief.
Yet it was only a vapor, a mist and a sheer to the full fabric of that reality.                                 But joy comes in the morning for I saw it on my dying beloved's face.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       I love you,  your pastor


                                                           

               

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   Why go to Church


A church goer  wrote a  letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

"I've gone for 30 years now" he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.  But for the life of me, I can't remember  a single one of them.  So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving so many sermons at all."

This started a controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote the clincher:

"I've been married for over 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But, for the life of me, I cannot  recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.  But I do know this.  They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.  Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"  When you are DOWN to nothing...God is UP to something!  Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible.  Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment."

When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus could you get that for me?
  

For Keys to Everyday Miracle Territory

The Master Key is an urgent prayer to be sent by God on a miracle mission.
The People Key readies you for the inevitable moment when Heaven's agenda collides with your own.  When you apply this key, you put yourself and Heaven on notice that you have decided to make God's heart for people your own.
The Spirit Key prepares you to cooperate with God's Spirit, especially in regard to His supernatural power.  
The Risk Key shows you how to intentionally live in such a way that you take risks of faith, relying on God to accomplish what He wants done.
                                                                                            Bruce Wilkinson

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Sunday Morning Bible Study for All Ages, 9:30 a.m.
Worship at 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday evening Adult Bible Study  & "His Kids" (except the 2nd Wed of the month), 7:00 p.m.
Thursday morning Adult Bible Study, 10:00 a.m.



Jim Hoffman, Th.D
Fairfax Baptist Church
10830 Main Street
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030
703-273-1820
703-273-1822 (fax)
pastorfxbc@aol.com