August 15, 2018
BBQ Ribs
BBQ Chicken
Baked Beans
Potato Salad
Corn on the Cobb
Yeast Rolls
Kids Menu
Chicken Tenders
Fries
Fruit
Milk
Harambe Ethiopian Restaurant -2006 Senate St, Columbia, SC
If you’re looking for something different and unique, Harambe Ethiopian Restaurant is a great option for something new and delicious. To get an up close look at the food and to learn about the life and ministry (a.k.a. testimony) of First Family member Beth Greer, check out the new Sunday Lunch Blog video.
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While I’m writing this with my friends who are in college or about to spring forth into the “real world” in mind, these resources are useful for anyone. Debt seems to be the reality for the majority of Americans. Scratch that, it doesn’t just seem like it, it is. As of September 2017, outstanding student load debt grew to $1.36 trillion. Credit card debt increased by $24 billion. Household indebtedness is up to $12.96 trillion! I wish that I was making these numbers up, but you can read the full report here. Most starting out their adult lives, begin in the hole, and instead of climbing out of that hole, it only grows deeper and deeper as time progresses. That hole is one of the contributing factors to why people are getting married later in life and why many marriages end in divorce. Once the hole gets that deep, it can feel like you’re being buried alive with no chance of getting out.
Fortunately, there is hope! There are some things that we can do to get out of the hole. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
Before you can budget, you have to know how much money is required for you to live. Chances are, you’re mindlessly spending money in certain areas, or could manage to cut out a few things.
Each month, write out your income and then allot money for each expense. Work from your expected income and work all the way down to zero to make sure that each dollar is accounted for. You can create a free account using a website/app like EveryDollar and/or download these printable budget sheets and expense journals here.
Your goal should first be to save $1,000. You’ll rest easier knowing that you have some contingency money and won’t be thrown off too bad when the unexpected happens.
Start Paying off Your Debt
Tackle your smallest debt first, paying the most on that while paying the minimum payments on the others. This article and this other article offer advice in greater detail.
Save 3-6 Months Worth of Expenses
Once your debt is paid off, take that money that you were using to pay off loans and save enough to cover you for a while in case you lose your job or some other emergency happens.
While this is not an extensive and detailed list for financial management, we didn’t even talk about retirement funds and investment options, it is a starting point for getting out of the hole and moving forward. I want to encourage you to check out sites like EveryDollar (by Dave Ramsey) and experiment with some of their tools. They also have tons of articles to help you budget, cut spending, and save. Sign up for their e-mail list and they should send you a free budgeting guide. If they don’t, e-mail me and I’ll send it to you. Set up savings funds through a bank like Capital One 360 Savings that offers a higher interest rate for your savings. The accounts are free to open with no minimum balance required and they are FDIC insured. If you have questions, don’t be shy about reaching out!
Lesson originally delivered on 4/29
What does the bible say about the doctrine of the transfiguration? The word transfigured means, “to transform into something more beautiful or elevated.” In Matthew 17:1-8 and in Mark 9:1-13 we see the story of Jesus being transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus gives the disciples a snapshot of His glory. In the gospel account in Matthew it really begins in Matthew 16:28 where Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” The transfiguration of Jesus recorded in Matthew 17:1-8 is a fulfillment of that promise made by Jesus in Matthew 16:28. The bible says in Matthew 17:1 after 6 days Jesus takes the inner circle of disciples including Peter, James and John to a high mountain. That mountain was probably Mt. Hermon near Caesarea Philippi. Jesus was transfigured or transformed before their eyes. He was glorified as He is in heaven today.
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When our church organist, Charlton Bozard and his wife Sallie went to take their Sunday afternoon naps a few weeks ago, they didn’t know that it was going to be a near death experience. Sallie was in the bedroom and Charlton was in the den in his recliner. They heard the storm warnings on the televisions, so he walked back to their room to joke, “Maybe we should take naps in the bathtub.” Within five minutes of returning to his chair, the rain came in.
“Not rain start and get harder and harder and harder, but a solid wall of water,” Charlton recalls. “I hollered, ‘Here it comes!’ and then I saw green go down outside the back door.” He called Sallie to come look out the back door, to which Sallie replied. “Forget the yard, come look out the bedroom window!” Their neighbor’s tree had fallen and hit a tree on the corner of their yard. Then both of those trees fell on a huge oak tree in their yard, creating an entanglement of three large trees.
Lesson on Romans 12:1-3 originally delivered on 4/22.
Caroline and April talk about the importance of Scripture and read some of their favorite verses that they’ve heard commonly taken out of context. They also share about times that they’ve struggled through Scripture and manage to struggle through Scripture right in the middle of this podcast episode. They invite you to come struggle with them and explore the goodness and power of God’s word in this episode of the First Community Podcast.
Listen online below or go here to listen/download/subscribe on iTunes for free (so you can listen in your car)!
“Until we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13
Government
Pray for our local, state and national leaders. Ask God to grant them wisdom, discernment, and hearts that are open to His leading. Ask God to give them unity of purpose for the good of our country.
Church
Pray for the Churches and Church leaders throughout our nation and in your community. Ask God to preserve and protect them, as He inspires and empowers them to equip His “Saints” for ministry. Pray for unity in our churches.
Military
Pray for our Military and it’s leaders. Pray for God to grant courage, protection, and strength for them and their families.
Family
Pray for families in our nation, your state, and throughout your community. Pray for the Lord to protect and strengthen marriages, encourage parents, and bring healing to relationships. Pray for unity in our families.
Education
Pray for God’s presence in our schools, colleges, and universities. Ask Him to select teachers and administrators who honor His statutes and protect our children. Pray for teachers, administrators and families to work together for the benefit of our students.
Lesson on Romans 10 originally delivered on 4/15