Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Love is the Thing
by Tom Goodman
May 4, 2011

Reagan's speechwriter, Peggy Noonan, said it well. The most important thing in life really is love:

We're locked in a funny arc, most of us, in terms of what we know. When you are goony and fourteen years old you think the most important thing in life is love. Then you mature, become more sober and thoughtful, and realize the most important thing in life is achieving, leaving your mark -- making breakthroughs in the field of science, or winning an Academy Award in recognition of a serious body of work, or creating security for yourself and your family through having a good house and sending your kids to good schools. And then you get old and realize... the most important thing in life is love. Giving love to others and receiving it from God. All the rest, the sober thoughtful things, are good and constructive... but love is the thing. The rest is just more or less what you were doing between fourteen and wisdom.

This Sunday, we'll look at four characteristics of real love in our continuing series, "Restoring Lost Values." How fitting to examine this value on Mother's Day!

Get Your Tickets for the "Beautiful Thing" Banquet Today!

Next Sunday, May 8, is the last day to secure a ticket to our "Beautiful Thing" Banquet, held Thursday, May 12. You should get your ticket today! 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. The banquet is free, but you have to register. Call the church office TODAY, or register for the banquet online by clicking here.

From the end of our May 12 banquet to the beginning of our Commitment Sunday service May 15, we want an unbroken chain of prayer lifted up from our Prayer Room! If you've participated in our past Prayer Vigils, you know what a powerful experience this can be. Inside the Prayer Room, you'll find instructions and various stations to lead you through a "sweet hour of prayer." The hours in the middle of the day and the middle of the night are hardest to fill, so take those if you can. Call the church office TODAY to find the available times, or just click here to sign up online.

--Tom

The Peggy Noonan quote is from her book, Simply Speaking, pages 53-54.

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
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Love is the Thing by Tom Goodman May 4, 2011 Reagan's speechwriter, Peggy Noonan, said it well. The most important thing in life really is love: We're locked in a funny arc, most of us, in terms of what we know. When you are goony and fourteen years old you think the most important thing in life is love. Then you mature, become more sober and thoughtful, and realize the most important thing in life is achieving, leaving your mark -- making breakthroughs in the field of science, or winning an Academy Award in recognition of a serious body of work, or creating security for yourself and your family through having a good house and sending your kids to good schools. And then you get old and realize... the most important thing in life is love. Giving love to others and receiving it from God. All the rest, the sober thoughtful things, are good and constructive... but love is the thing. The rest is just more or less what you were doing between fourteen and wisdom. This Sunday, we'll look at four characteristics of real love in our continuing series, "Restoring Lost Values." How fitting to examine this value on Mother's Day! Get Your Tickets for the "Beautiful Thing" Banquet Today! Next Sunday, May 8, is the last day to secure a ticket to our "Beautiful Thing" Banquet, held Thursday, May 12. You should get your ticket today! 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. The banquet is free, but you have to register. Call the church office TODAY, or register for the banquet online by clicking here. Sign Up for the 60-Hour Prayer Vigil From the end of our May 12 banquet to the beginning of our Commitment Sunday service May 15, we want an unbroken chain of prayer lifted up from our Prayer Room! If you've participated in our past Prayer Vigils, you know what a powerful experience this can be. Inside the Prayer Room, you'll find instructions and various stations to lead you through a "sweet hour of prayer." The hours in the middle of the day and the middle of the night are hardest to fill, so take those if you can. Call the church office TODAY to find the available times, or just click here to sign up online. --Tom The Peggy Noonan quote is from her book, Simply Speaking, pages 53-54. 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.