Southland Blog

So when I found out that anger made the Fatal Four teaching bracket, I kind of let out a sigh of relief since I don't consider myself an angry person. Maybe this was one Mike Breaux message I could relax through. Then I saw a brochure at Celebrate Recovery called, "Freedom from Anger." It contained a checklist adapted from "The Anger Workbook" by Carter and Minirth designed to help you identify if anger is more of an issue than you think.

There were questions like, "I become impatient easily when things do not go according to my plans." Check. "I feel frustrated when I see someone else having an 'easier' time than me." Yikes. "I do not easily forget when someone 'does me wrong.'" Ouch. I'll stop there because I'm getting uncomfortable.

Anger is a God-given emotion and it can be CONSTRUCTIVE or DESTRUCTIVE. The right kind of anger can motive us to action, to seek justice and uphold the truth. The wrong kind can move in and take up residence in our lives, showing up when we least expect it. When anger is stuffed, it will show up again.

Many of my frustrations are triggered by a world that doesn't function the way I want it to. At Celebrate Recovery, we pray the Serenity Prayer as part of our gatherings. One line always jumps out it me: "...taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it." Those have been freeing words for me.

Do a word search on anger in scripture this week. You'll find Old Testament wisdom and practical New Testament challenges to live like Jesus, who, even in his anger, did not sin.

We have plenty of those brochures about anger at Celebrate Recovery every Thursday night at 6 in Building C. Stop by and pick one up.

Greg Chandler
Care Pastor
Harrodsburg Road Campus

James 3:13-16
For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.  For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Greg Chandler
Care Pastor
Harrodsburg Road Campus

Well, Winter Wonderland was a huge success. Jesus Prom 2011 was this past Friday night and we had a blast. Over 1200 prom-goers came out in their formal attire for a night of dancing and celebration. We always look forward to this opportunity to laugh and boogey with these folks, and this year was no different. We'd like to thank the thousands of volunteers who make this night possible. We couldn't do it without you. And this night wouldn't be so magical without hours and hours that those volunteers put into it.

If you'd like to know more about our ministries to the mentally and physically handicapped, contact Belinda.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…” (Psalm 68:5-6a)

• KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services (State Foster Care)
• America World (International)
• Love Basket (Domestic and International)
• Adopt Inc. (Domestic)
• A Helping Hand Adoption Agency (Domestic and International)
• Journeys of the Heart (Domestic and International)
• Sunrise Children's Services (Foster Care)

It’s estimated that there are over 143 million orphans worldwide, and over 500,000 children in U.S. foster care. What is our role, as the church and as individuals, in addressing this crisis? 

Orphan Sunday is the perfect day to reflect and take action on this matter. Maybe you know families that have sponsored children or you’ve seen adoptive families at church and wished you could ask them how they made such an important decision. 

If you are interested in orphan care, foster care, adoption, have tons of questions or don’t even know where to begin, we invite you to this event. 

Join us from 1-4pm this Sunday, November 6 in Building F (The Atrium) as Southland’s Adoption Care Group hosts our fourth annual Adoption and Orphan Care event. Celebrating Orphan Sunday and National Adoption Awareness Month, the event will feature information and resources on domestic adoption, international adoption, foster care, special needs adoption and orphan care. You’ll have the opportunity to talk to adoptive parents, adoption and orphan care professionals, and visit organizational booths with valuable information and resources. 

There’s a place for everyone at this event! We can all impact the life of an orphan through prayer, financial support or adoption. Register for the entire event or just a portion of the event and discover how you can impact the life of a child and change their story and yours forever. 

If you want to attend, register now!

Imagine a mission trip that is just a two-mile walk, a lot of fun, and costs only a little of your time.  The way this one works, you ask friends and family to pledge whatever they can – from $1 to $10,000 - to your efforts.   Show up on October 16 with your pledge form, and Assurance takes care of collecting the pledge money.

Parking is free, there’s a corn-hole tournament, a live DJ (Stooky Slaughter), fun food, face painting and super nice people! It’s a great way to spend an hour or two doing something meaningful on a Sunday afternoon. 

The average person facing an unplanned pregnancy is under colossal pressure and panic.  Assurance is a licensed medical clinic, which provides people in that situation with a place to feel safe, learn about all their options, obtain accurate information, ultrasounds, resources, and the grace of Christ for whatever their circumstances may be.  As a result, over 2,100 women/girls who thought they ‘had to have an abortion’ were saved from that terrible ordeal.  For those who have walked that dreadful road, Assurance offers post-abortion healing ministry. 

Everything is free because hundreds of people at churches like ours, get involved with the Love Walk, every year.  The average walker raises over $150.  Just increase that to $200 and you get a free, very cool, tee shirt and some undying appreciation!  Oh, and on this mission trip you get to sleep in your own bed!

For more information about Assurance and the Love Walk, go to their website.

We're quickly approaching one of Southland's most anticipated events of the year...Jesus Prom! The prom theme is "Winter Wonderland" this year and is happening on Friday, November 18 at the Harrodsburg Road campus. 

To get the ball rolling, we'll need a few things from you all. On the weekends of October 8/9 and 15/16 in the Concourse at Harrodsburg Road and Connection Point in Danville, we'll be collecting formal dresses for our guests to wear. The dresses you donate may have seen your glory days but are probably ready for a second wind that will clothe each female guest in a sense of love, value and acceptance as we celebrate them at the Prom. We'll take any woman's dress sizes and have a particular need for plus sizes. 

To make sure each guest is paired with their perfect dress, we'll need some volunteers to help during "fitting week," October 24–27 at the Harrodsburg Road Campus. During this week, you can help out by welcoming and registering guests as they arrive for their fitting, measuring and sewing for the perfect fit. Anyone is welcome to give a helping hand during fitting week and be there to make a loving first impression of Jesus Prom 2011.

To volunteer for fitting week or any other part of Jesus Prom 2011, visit the Jesus Prom website.

Southland’s Care Ministry offers several ways for you get the support you need when you’re facing challenging times.

In August, we’ll be introducing two new Care Groups: Griffin’s Gift is for families who have experienced the sudden death of a child, and Invisible Wounds is for parents and spouses of disabled veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

There are many opportunities to get help if you’re in need and we truly believe that support and care are responsibilities of the church.

If you’d like to find out more about any of our care groups, visit the Care Groups page or contact Belinda.

God has given us each unique gifts and abilities that could potentially leave a huge impact for His Kingdom long after we’re done serving Him; but identifying our potential can often times be difficult. Regardless of if you're in your 30's and at the peak of your career, thinking about retirement, or have even been retired for a couple years, we want to help you see how you can make a Kingdom impact during the "second half" of your life.

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For people entering into the second half of their life, questions often surface about fulfilling God's calling in your life and how you can use your experience to make a greater Kingdom impact.

On March 4-6, we will be holding a 3 day retreat called Maximum Impact that will help you find answers to these questions as well as help you see ways to serve the Kingdom throughout the upcoming years.

Guest Speakers Mike and Sally Breen of 3D ministries will be our keynote speakers during the retreat.  They have been innovators in leading missional churches throughout Europe and the United States for more than 25 years.  

To find out more, or if you are interested in attending, please visit the Maximum Impact Retreat page.

Belinda Thacker, Care Team

UPDATE: This entry is for previous year's class. Information on the most recent class can always be found on the Pre-Marriage Class page.

Marriage can be one of the best things you’ll ever be a part of in your life; but at times it can also be one of the hardest.

If you are recently engaged or thinking about getting engaged,we encourage you to participate in the next Pre-Marriage Class coming up in April. Utilizing the Prepare Assessment and the application of biblical principles, this class will be a great preparation for making the lifelong commitment of marriage.

We will meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30pm starting April 6 and running through April 27. The deadline for registration is March 25.

For more information, contact Belinda Thacker.

If you're facing challenges in your life, Southland's Care Ministry offers several ways for you to get the support and encouragement you need.

There are many different Care Groups that meet regularly including support for divorce, breast cancer, adoption, grief, weight control, and families who have loved ones in the military.

You can find out more information about our Care Groups and their meeting times on the Care page.   Please contact Belinda if you have any questions or would like more information about Southland's Care Ministry.

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You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
—Matthew 5:27-30

In roughly twenty seconds¹ Jesus leveled the playing field when it comes to adultery. Self-rightous people like to point the finger at those who are train-wrecking their marriages, families and lives with physical acts of sexual sin. But Jesus says that anyone who even looks lustfully is headed down this same track.

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On January 23, we will be beginning a women's step study to help you work through your hurts, habits and hang-ups in community with other women. We will be meeting each Sunday morning at 8:30am in room B115.

No registration is required to be a part of this group, so just come out and join us. New group members are welcome to join through March 6.

If you have any questions about this group, please contact Mary Helen.

We want to make sure that everyone here at Southland has the tools, resources, and community support they need to not only overcome hurts, habits, and hangups, but continually go deeper in their relationship with God. From new spring classes to care groups, there are many opportunities coming up this year to grow in community.

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