One of the things that I truly love about serving as your pastor is the opportunity
that I have to introduce myself to someone and when they learn that I am the pastor
of Flat Rock Baptist Church to see the reaction that they have. Many times I will
hear the following statement from an individual: "I hear lots of good things about
Flat Rock." Typically, I will respond by saying, "We'd love for you to come and
experience those good things first hand." Doesn't it make you feel good to have
someone say they hear good things about your church? I believe it is a basic part of
our human nature to enjoy hearing good things about ourselves, our efforts and
activities, and the causes and organizations to which we devote our time and effort
and support. By the same token, don't you enjoy sharing good news? I am thrilled to
be able to share when a family unites with our church; someone follows the Lord
Jesus in baptism or when our fellowship reaches out in Christian compassion to help
someone who has found themselves in a difficult time. I am delighted to be able to
share when outstanding things happen in the lives of members of our church family or
when we experience a tremendous outpouring of God's blessings. Those, and many
others that I have not mentioned, are good news worth sharing.

Sharing good news has an effect. It generates a tangible excitement that others
sense and share. We have a word for that type of excitement. We call it enthusiasm.
In fact, enthusiasm is defined as "Great excitement for or interest in a subject or
cause." An anonymous author has written these words about enthusiasm:

That certain something that makes us great-that pulls us out of the mediocre and
commonplace-that builds into us power. It glows and shines-it lights up our
faces-ENTHUSIASM, the keynote that makes us sing and makes men sing with us.
ENTHUSIASM-the maker of friends-the maker of smiles-the producer of confidence. It
cries to the world, "I've got what it takes." It tells all men that our job is a
swell job-that the house which we work for just suits us-the goods we have are the
best. ENTHUSIASM-the inspiration that makes us "wake up and live." It puts spring in
our step-spring in our hearts-a twinkle in our eyes and gives us confidence in
ourselves and our fellow men. ENTHUSIASM-it changes a dead pan salesman to a
producer-a pessimist to an optimist-a loafer to a go-getter. ENTHUSIASM-If we have
it, we should thank God for it. If we don't have it, then we should get down on our
knees and pray for it.

As we have begun this new year of 2008, I hope that you have begun it with
enthusiasm - excitement for the cause of Christ, excitement for the spirit of
harmony and peace that dwells in our midst, excitement for the wonderful and good
things God has allowed and is going to allow us to experience as a part of His body
in the family of God at Flat Rock Baptist Church.

Let me close by pointing to a couple of events about which I am very excited that
will be coming up very quickly in 2008. One of those will be the recommendation of
the Associate Pastor Search Committee. As of the writing of this newsletter article,
I am pleased to share with you that God is leading us to work closely with an
individual who may very well become our Associate Pastor. I ask you to continue to
pray for God's guidance and leadership for our committee, for our church and for
this individual as we consider this opportunity. Secondly, I ask you to put on your
calendar dates for the season of Easter, as we celebrate the resurrection of our
Lord, the true source of our enthusiasm as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Easter Sunday will be on March 23 this year. Remember the words of the angel as the
women came to the tomb on that Resurrection Morning: "He is not here; he has risen,
just as he said." (Matthew 28:6a). May God bless with you enthusiasm as you serve
Him in the coming days.

Todd Byrd