Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Get Busy Living
by Tom Goodman
April 27, 2011

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."

Ten points for Gryffindor if you tell me the source of that quote.

Okay, time's up. It's from The Shawshank Redemption, and it's on my mind as I prepare for this week's message.

The Shawshank Redemption is a story about two men. There's Andy Dufresne, who is unjustly convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, and there's his friend Red. They spend many hard years in prison, but one day Andy tells Red that if he is ever freed from Shawshank, he should go to a certain town and find a certain tree in a certain cornfield, and push aside a certain rock. There he will uncover a little tin can containing enough money to make it across the border to a little Mexican fishing village. Not long after this conversation, Andy escapes from prison and Red is paroled. Red, dutiful friend that he is, finds the cornfield, the tree, the rocks, the tin can, and the money. He also finds a letter from Andy: "Red, never forget. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies." At that moment, Red realizes he has two choices: "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."

This Sunday, come and learn why hope is such a good thing, maybe the best of things. It's part of our series, "Restoring Lost Values." We're looking at Faith, Hope, Love, and Generosity. Join us @ 10!

Have You Signed Up for Our "Beautiful Thing" Banquet?

Thursday, May 12, join your church family for dinner! Preschool care will be provided, and the children and the youth will have their own meal and age-appropriate stewardship challenge while adults are in the Multi-Purpose Center.

Someone asked why we're calling it a "Family Dinner" if the "family" is in different parts of our building. The simple answer is: We can't fit everyone in the MPC. In addition, though, we think we can make the evening more interesting for your kids and teens if we provide a meal and a brief lesson/activity for them that is more age-appropriate.

I'm amazed at the energy and creativity that the organizers are putting into this banquet! I think you and your kids and teens will find this a night to remember! It's free, but you have to register. Sign up this Sunday at church, or go online and do it right now.

--Tom

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them at www.HillcrestAustin.org/beacon.

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored," with its Links to Your World -- interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here.

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe	Contact Us About Your Subscription
Get Busy Living by Tom Goodman April 27, 2011 "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies." Ten points for Gryffindor if you tell me the source of that quote. Okay, time's up. It's from The Shawshank Redemption, and it's on my mind as I prepare for this week's message. The Shawshank Redemption is a story about two men. There's Andy Dufresne, who is unjustly convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, and there's his friend Red. They spend many hard years in prison, but one day Andy tells Red that if he is ever freed from Shawshank, he should go to a certain town and find a certain tree in a certain cornfield, and push aside a certain rock. There he will uncover a little tin can containing enough money to make it across the border to a little Mexican fishing village. Not long after this conversation, Andy escapes from prison and Red is paroled. Red, dutiful friend that he is, finds the cornfield, the tree, the rocks, the tin can, and the money. He also finds a letter from Andy: "Red, never forget. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies." At that moment, Red realizes he has two choices: "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'." This Sunday, come and learn why hope is such a good thing, maybe the best of things. It's part of our series, "Restoring Lost Values." We're looking at Faith, Hope, Love, and Generosity. Join us @ 10! Have You Signed Up for Our "Beautiful Thing" Banquet? Thursday, May 12, join your church family for dinner! Preschool care will be provided, and the children and the youth will have their own meal and age-appropriate stewardship challenge while adults are in the Multi-Purpose Center. Someone asked why we're calling it a "Family Dinner" if the "family" is in different parts of our building. The simple answer is: We can't fit everyone in the MPC. In addition, though, we think we can make the evening more interesting for your kids and teens if we provide a meal and a brief lesson/activity for them that is more age-appropriate. I'm amazed at the energy and creativity that the organizers are putting into this banquet! I think you and your kids and teens will find this a night to remember! It's free, but you have to register. Sign up this Sunday at church, or go online and do it right now. --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them at www.HillcrestAustin.org/beacon. Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored," with its Links to Your World -- interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.