"Better Together - Week 4"

Dear FBCO Friend:

One of my favorite coaches of all times is John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach at UCLA. Coach Wooden won 10 national championships at UCLA, a record likely never to be broken.

Coach Wooden would start the first practice of each season by getting his athletes on the gym floor and teaching them to put their socks and shoes on.
Why? Blisters are the #1 injury sidelining a basketball player. His Assistant Coaches would go up and down the rows of athletes and help them learn to put socks on. As a result in his career, no player missed a game because of a blister. When they were needed most, the player was ready to assist the team.

What seems simplistic was actually crucial to winning a championship instead of coming in 2nd place according to Coach Wooden. Giving attention to detail in the basics of the Christian life, doing it together, over the long haul
- and you win.

The same is true of "40 Days of Community". We are learning the basics of loving each other with God’s love and sharing His love with the community around us. Together we learn, together we pray and serve, and together we celebrate what God is doing! The enthusiasm is high and I am excited! We have such a generous, kind, caring church and God is taking us to another level.

CELEBRATE WITH YOU: Write and tell me what God is doing in you, your family, your Sunday School through "40 Days of Community". I love to hear how He is growing us. Tell me what your community project is and how it benefited everyone involved. Thanks for doing this.

SUNDAY’S SERMON: "HOW WE HELP EACH OTHER GROW" from Romans 8:31-39.
Because of all God has done for us, we are empowered to help others as His hands and feet.

BIBLE BYTE: "Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Deuteronomy 8:3

Beloved, this shepherd really does love the sheep. I am excited to see how He is working through your caring ways. I am eager to see you Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30am (we also have classes meeting at 7:45am) with a prayer in your heart, a Bible and tithe/VTV gift in your hand, a smile on your face, and a friend by your side, ready to experience God together!

Better Together,

Pastor Roger