Sundry Dinner, Thanksgiving Edition

by Tom Goodman

6 Things Everyone Believes About Thanksgiving That Are Absolutely Untrue


This Desktop Edible Insect Hive Grows Your Daily Protein At Home. If you can stomach the whole mealworm-eating part, it's a lot easier than raising chickens.


Impregnated by a Speeding Bullet, and Other Tall Tales. How science’s craziest stories get passed from one generation to the next


I love this photographer's messages she posts on abandoned marquees around the country


To many Christians, denominationalism seems pretty old-fashioned. Not “vintage” old-fashioned, like vinyl records and safety razors, but “outdated” old-fashioned, like phone books and VHS tapes. Have denominations gone the way of the buffalo? Does denominational identity matter anymore? Nathan Finn explains why identifying with a denomination still matters.

This week's newsletter from Karen

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

I’m thankful for…

Cheryl Alvis – Rebecca Barnes – Ann Blaha – Cheryl Booth – Judy Barber - Julie Chambers – Mark Chambers – Pilar Corral – Paige Dahl – Jennifer Dorsey – Mark Dorsey – Tommie Ford – Sandy Harpin – Amy Koch – Patrick Koch – Natasha Littlestar – Lisa Livingston – Mike Miller – Debra Morgan – Susan Porter – Paul Rusch – Andre Shomba – Henriette Shomba – Emily Slaughter – Pat Stivers – Tracy Urban – Gloria White – Brittany Whitley – Laine Whitley – Kathy Wiederkehr – Mike Wiederkehr – Brandy Williams – Rhonda Williams – Tracy Williams

…the men and women who serve the children of Hillcrest Baptist Church each and every week.

This week's newsletter from Steve

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – 1 Chronicles 16:23-34

I pray you have an amazing Thanksgiving week with family and friends! May you remember to be thankful for the One who gave His life so we may have eternal life! I am so thankful for Jesus, and the family He has blessed me with! Happy Thanksgiving!

This week's newsletter from Gene

Thanksgiving week. When we think about that, it is easy to focus on what may be major issues in our lives, rather than the total. I don’t know of any person that doesn’t have circumstances in their lives, or friend’s or family’s lives, they wished were different. If those circumstances are our focus, we will have a difficult time being very thankful. If we look at the whole of our lives and then look at where the Lord is working in those circumstances we are having difficulty with, we can be thankful.

Do you have, or have you had little children, or maybe grandchildren now? How easily they get upset at the adults in their world because something doesn’t go like they want or many times, “when” they want. One of my least favorite phrases my mom used to say to me when I was very young, was “after a while.” There were things that prevented me getting what I wanted, when I wanted it, even though mom had told me I would get it. We lived in the country, so I enjoyed going to town. When mom had said we were going to town a particular day, I was ready right then. I would bug her about “when.” Many times her answer was “after a while.” And “after a while,” we would go.

Are there areas in your life where the Lord is saying “after a while?” Sarah and Abraham knew what it was like to “wait upon the Lord” for the fulfillment of His promise to them, “being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:21

Is God’s answer to you, “after a while?” Be thankful.

Sundry Dinner

by Tom Goodman

English is not normal


The actual woman behind Charlie Brown's little red-haired girl


Updated "Ironic" Song:




Slate explores "the confusing, complicated desire of parents with no religion to raise their kids with faith."


Resettling Syrian Refugees: An Alternative. Reihan Salam says economic opportunity closer to home is better than a struggle to integrate abroad.


Denny Burk's "Some Provisional Reflections on the Refugee Situation"


"I had only just earned the PhD and was on the job market when my department’s graduate chairman took me aside, and in the kindliest terms, said, 'I wish I didn’t have to say this, but you should know that the slightest hint of religion on your résumé is the kiss of death.' In the years since I was given that advice, the shadows have only grown longer in the academic world. What we believe is now no longer merely odd, but discriminatory, and therefore fair game to be discriminated against....[This] is the death of ostracism, the death of contempt, the death of unemployability and poverty and incessant self-accusation for being so silly." (The Illusion of Respectability)

This week's newsletter from Karen

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2, NIV

My Bible reading included this verse within the passage of Luke 10 where Jesus was sending out 72 ambassadors to heal the sick and let the people know that the kingdom of God was near.

With the events over the last few days, do you ever wonder if the kingdom of God gets nearer and nearer all the time? Do you think the harvest is plentiful today? Do you think there are many that do not know the love, redemption, and grace God has to offer? Do you think there are enough workers to reach those that need to hear about God’s love, redemption, and grace? What are we to do?

I’m reminded of an old Steve Green song where one verse with chorus reads…

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost?

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize people need the Lord?

My prayer is that believers awaken to the realization that it’s time to get involved in the harvest in the way God has equipped them. Does that mean you? Probably.

Pray today that God will open your eyes to the place He has created for you to serve, whether it be in children’s ministry, student ministry, small group leadership, community outreach, or some other possibility.

Right now, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

This week's newsletter from Steve

I just want to thank our church family for supporting the Operation Christmas Child ministry by donating 268 boxes this year! This is such a personal way for us to connect to people around the world. I only wish we could show you a picture of the faces of these kids when your gifts arrive. This is where the church becomes much larger than Hillcrest, and much larger than Texas. This ministry helps keep our world view wide. People in China, Mexico, Ukraine, the Philippines, Uganda, Haiti, and so many more places get to hear the message of Jesus because of what you packed in that shoe box. May God bless Operation Christmas Child, and may there be a large number of people who come to know Christ because of this ministry!

Also, it is not too early to begin praying for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This is the annual offering Southern Baptists give each December, in which 100% of the money goes directly into missions overseas. It costs just over $85,000 per year to fully fund a missionary. When you multiply that by over 4000 missionaries, you understand the need is great! That amount does not even include ministry expenses, just base pay, insurance, housing, etc. Maybe we could fund a missionary for a year? Why not two? I pray the Lord will lead us in this!

This week's newsletter from Gene

In addition to what you see Michael doing leading music on Sunday mornings, he is also responsible for our media and is doing an equally fine job with it. What does that entail? Basically everything that allows you to see and hear what is being presented on the platform comes under that umbrella. Our Sunday morning experience has become very technical that includes lighting, auditorium sound, stage monitoring, video screens, a different sound mix for the recordings upstairs, cameras and the mixing equipment that allows us to make our service available on the internet. Thank you Michael for for your diligence in making all this work and for training our volunteers to carry our their many responsibilities!!

One of the new benefits that has recently become available is seeing our Sunday morning service live through the internet. This has already become a very neat ministry to several of our people who are unable to attend, my wife, Lynn, being one of them. It allows them to “attend” and continue to be a part of Hillcrest. Now, I must confess, the administrator hat I wear is a little concerned about our people finding out how good of a job our guys are doing in producing this on-line service, that some may choose to stay at home and watch rather than coming. I’m thinking that is OK, as long as they double their tithe if they are just being lazy... Kind of like a “convenience fee.” What do you think?

Lynn and I will be in San Antonio the end of this week exploring the possibility of a stem cell transplant. Your prayers for wisdom are appreciated. If you would like to get regular updates as to her status, go to www.caringbridge.org and search for Lynn Chappell. You can select to receive email notification when an update is made so you don’t have to remember to check the site.

How to Pray for Your Pastor

by Tom Goodman

 “Join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf,” Paul wrote in Romans 15:30. The apostle said you can partner with a pastor by your prayers, and he often asked for that help.

In that fine tradition, how can you pray for me? Here are a few suggestions from a list Pastor Ligon Duncan shared in a blog post. Duncan said to pray...

That I would know, embrace, and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

That I would be useful servant of the Lord; that I would know and love God's word, God's people, and God's kingdom; that I would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell's gates.

That I would study, practice, and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

That I would love to pray, would love to commune with God.

That I would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that I would possess true Spiritual wisdom.

That I would be holy unto the Lord; that my tongue and heart would be wholly God's.

That God would give me guidance as to where to focus my efforts in ministry.

That He would protect me from myself, from the enemy of my soul, and from all earthly enemies.

That many would be converted and many built up under my ministry, to God's glory alone.

That the Lord would bless my wife with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.

That God would make me a decent husband and father.

It's a comfort to know you're praying for me as I pray for you!

Sign Up for the Next PrayerWalk. Speaking of prayer, have you signed up for our next PrayerWalk? It’s 8-10am on Saturday November 21. Go online to Hillcrest.Church/PrayerWalk to learn more and to register. Childcare is provided for those who RSVP.

Sign Up for the Next Missions Munch. On November 22 we will kick off our annual Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions by welcoming David and Janet Hooten, our missionaries serving in Mozambique. David will preach in the worship service. After the small-group hour, David and Janet will talk about their service during a BBQ lunch. Tickets to the lunch are required and can be purchased after this Sunday’s service or online.

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Sundry Dinner

by Tom Goodman

Why Self-Driving Cars Must Be Programmed to Kill. Self-driving cars are already cruising the streets. But before they can become widespread, carmakers must solve an impossible ethical dilemma of algorithmic morality.


Sermon Illustration Alert: Submerged 400-Year-Old Church Resurfaces from the Waves


"If pressed to identify a villain in my family’s story, I would have pointed to God." Amy Simpson writes about how a complex relationship with a schizophrenic mom led to a complex relationship with God. Part 1. Part 2.


Summarize the storyline of the Bible in one sentence. Ready? Go.


A Boy’s Discovery Rebuts Temple Mount Revisionism. Palestinians deny Jewish roots at the holy site, but a newly unearthed artifact confirms historical truths. "A 10-year-old Russian boy, Matvei Tcepliaev, recently made an extraordinary discovery in Jerusalem. Working as a volunteer in the Temple Mount Sifting Project, he found a 3,000-year-old seal—engraved limestone about the size of a thimble, with a hole at one end so it could be hung from a string—from the time of King David....The seal confirms the ancient Jewish presence in Jerusalem—more than a millennium before the Muslim Dome of the Rock was built above the ruins of the ancient temples."

This week's newsletter from Michael

What a wonderful time of worship we had last Sunday! The Holy Spirit was here!!!

It is always a joy hearing you sing, church! One of the songs from last week’s set was, “I Need Thee, O I Need Thee.” Just wanted to share a little about this song.

“O I Need Thee!” - We need God. It is impossible to survive this journey we are on without Him. We all need to be in fellowship with God each and every day of our lives.

“Every Hour I Need Thee” - Yes, we need to feel our need. Where real need is not felt, there is rarely any real praying. The Apostle Paul tells us to keep praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication… for ALL the saints (Ephesians 6:18). Pray for one another!

I am so glad we serve a God who knows our every need, and will take care of us even when we are down in the valley. He is always there! I look forward to seeing you next Sunday morning!

This week's newsletter from Karen

With all the rain we’ve had over the past few days, I remembered an article I wrote a few years ago. Thought I would share it with you again. 

Do you know where to find this girl?

In 1911 Morton’s Salt began adding the anti-caking agent, magnesium carbonate (calcium silicate today), to its salt. The company needed to come up with an illustration and slogan that would highlight to consumers that its product—common table salt—would pour freely even in damp weather. In 1914, the umbrella girl above and the slogan “When it rains, it pours” were introduced and have been part of our American culture for the past 100 years. 

I thought about this slogan in light of its intended message (when weather is bad, our product still works) vs. the common expression (when bad luck comes, it comes all at once) we use today. I thought about the illustration of the girl walking in the rain with her umbrella and carton of salt pouring out behind her vs. the picture that most likely comes to our minds when we think of ourselves experiencing downpours of bad luck. 

It struck me that as a believer, I should feel obligated to think of myself as the Morton Salt Girl in terms of the intended meaning of the phrase. When rain (trials, bad days, etc.) come into my life, I have my umbrella (my faith in Christ) to keep me dry. I also have my magnesium carbonate (the Holy Spirit) to keep me from caking (giving up, becoming paralyzed) and able move forward and pour my salt (my time, talents, and treasures) into the world around me. 

My prayer is that 100 years from now, when people will look back on the lives of the Hillcrest family, they will be able to say of us, “When it rained, they poured.”

This week's newsletter from Steve

First of all, I just want to send out a great big THANK YOU to all in our church family who helped out with Craft Show this weekend! Your tireless efforts did not go unnoticed, and I personally thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. Our two Craft Show organizers, Debbie Marett and Debbie Wuthnow, did a fantastic job organizing vendors and food during this year’s show! There are so many others who cooked food, swept floors, took out trash, moved furniture, and re-hung doors, I could not name them all in this short column. Special thanks also to our Second Half ministries for jumping in to help during the weekend, and especially with clean-up after the show. May the Lord richly bless you for your work, love, and humble spirits. Great job! 

We have just a few more days left to participate in our Operation Christmas Child ministry. It is great to see boxes appearing at the front of the auditorium! We at Hillcrest packed and sent nearly 300 boxes last year, and it would be awesome to send that many again this year! If you have not gotten your box done yet, there is still time! Have a wonderful week!