Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Special Holiday Schedule

Christmas Eve
Candlelight Lord's Supper Service
6:00 p.m.

Christmas Day
Worship Service (no other activities)
11:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m.

New Years Day
Worship Service (no other activities)
11:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m.

Riding Herd
by Tom Goodman
December 21, 2011

Do you know what it means to "ride herd" over something?

Every region has its unique phrases. People from the northeast refer to something impressive as "wicked good," which is akin to what the southern Californian means by "narly." Everyone in the South knows how far a "tad" is when asked to "scoot over a tad." And my friends in the Caribbean all know how long it's going to be when a repairman tells you, "Soon come, mon."

In Texas, to "ride herd" over something means to manage it, to keep it in line, to direct it toward a desired end.

With that in mind, we need to ride herd over three things: our time, our talents, and our treasure.

The biblical word for this is "stewardship." A steward was someone who managed his master's estate. He did not own it, but he was entrusted with it, and his master would hold him accountable for his attentive care. In the Bible, we are told to be good stewards of the things God has entrusted to us.

I know your mind is on Christmas right now, but 2012 is a week away! And on New Year's Day we'll begin a 3-week sermon series called "Riding Herd: Managing Your Time, Talents, and Treasure." Your 2012 will be a lot more successful if you can be a better manager of these three things, so start the New Year right by learning how!

The series begins on New Year's Day -- and don't forget that the special holiday schedule will be in effect: The service will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Thankful for our Musicians! What a great Christmas music program last Sunday! Many thanks to the talented members of our music ministry!

O Come Let Us Adore Him. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve for our Lord's Supper service. It's always a moving experience to close this service with hundreds of lit candles.

Special Holiday Schedule the Next Two Sundays. On December 25 and January 1, our worship service will begin at 11:00 a.m., and there will be no other activities.

Ministry to our Missionary Families. Be in prayer for the team traveling to Thailand to lead a camp for the teens of our International Mission Board personnel. They leave December 26 and return January 3. The team includes members of our own church: Steve and Amy Cloud, David and Elishea Smith, and Katie Cline.

--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 here.

Check out my weblog here.

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

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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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Special Holiday Schedule Christmas Eve Candlelight Lord's Supper Service 6:00 p.m. Christmas Day Worship Service (no other activities) 11:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m. New Years Day Worship Service (no other activities) 11:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m. Riding Herd by Tom Goodman December 21, 2011 Do you know what it means to "ride herd" over something? Every region has its unique phrases. People from the northeast refer to something impressive as "wicked good," which is akin to what the southern Californian means by "narly." Everyone in the South knows how far a "tad" is when asked to "scoot over a tad." And my friends in the Caribbean all know how long it's going to be when a repairman tells you, "Soon come, mon." In Texas, to "ride herd" over something means to manage it, to keep it in line, to direct it toward a desired end. With that in mind, we need to ride herd over three things: our time, our talents, and our treasure. The biblical word for this is "stewardship." A steward was someone who managed his master's estate. He did not own it, but he was entrusted with it, and his master would hold him accountable for his attentive care. In the Bible, we are told to be good stewards of the things God has entrusted to us. I know your mind is on Christmas right now, but 2012 is a week away! And on New Year's Day we'll begin a 3-week sermon series called "Riding Herd: Managing Your Time, Talents, and Treasure." Your 2012 will be a lot more successful if you can be a better manager of these three things, so start the New Year right by learning how! The series begins on New Year's Day -- and don't forget that the special holiday schedule will be in effect: The service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Thankful for our Musicians! What a great Christmas music program last Sunday! Many thanks to the talented members of our music ministry! O Come Let Us Adore Him. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve for our Lord's Supper service. It's always a moving experience to close this service with hundreds of lit candles. Special Holiday Schedule the Next Two Sundays. On December 25 and January 1, our worship service will begin at 11:00 a.m., and there will be no other activities. Ministry to our Missionary Families. Be in prayer for the team traveling to Thailand to lead a camp for the teens of our International Mission Board personnel. They leave December 26 and return January 3. The team includes members of our own church: Steve and Amy Cloud, David and Elishea Smith, and Katie Cline. --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 here. Check out my weblog here. 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.