STARTING POINT
If you are in the part of your spiritual journey where you are asking questions like, “Does God exist?”, “Is the Bible reliable?” or “What happens to those who don’t believe?” our Starting Point groups are a great place to start to get answers. These informal discussion groups allow you to be yourself, raise any issues or questions you have about spiritual matters, express your thoughts and opinions without judgment, hear what other seekers are thinking and learn what the Bible has to say about life today. We are offering Starting Point on Sundays during the 11:00 service in the room to the right of the main entrance as you enter the building. You can check out the group without feeling like you have to sign up for a long-term commitment. Go once and see what you think. For more information about how to connect with a Starting Point group, contact Matt Moss at StartingPoint@prestontrail.org

BAPTISM
One of our biggest events at PTCC, our Baptism celebration, will be held on October 28th at Lakes Tennis Academy at 5:00 PM. An informational meeting will be held on Monday, October 22nd at 7:00 PM at the PTCC Building for all participants. Join many others in celebrating their life in Christ. Register at the Information Table or reply to us at info@prestontrail.org to be baptized on Sunday, October 28th.

FALL FAMILY MISSION TRIP
Registration begins TODAY for our fall family mission trip to Casa Hogar Elim, an orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. We will be there November 17-20, 2007. This mission trip is for families and single adults. Children that are in fourth grade or above are able to go, if accompanied by a parent/guardian. Cost for this trip is $175 per person. The last date to sign up will be October 28, 2007. See the YES! table for more information.

LIVE DEBT FREE!
Preston Trail is launching Dave Ramsey’s 13 week Financial Peace University on November 11th. Weekly meetings will be held Sunday’s from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the PTCC youth worship room. The first semester will be limited to 20 people; additional classes will be offered in the Spring. Join us as we learn practical biblical principles on debt, giving, investing, insurance and many other topics. Signup on October 21st and 28th at the north entrance welcome desk. For additional information email info@prestontrail.org.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Celebrate Recovery is on Fridays, at 7:00 PM at PTCC. CR welcomes adults who seek recovery from any of life’s hurts, habits, or hang-ups. See the YES! Table or email info@prestontrail.org for more information.

PARTNERSHIP
Take the next step in your commitment to God and to PTCC by becoming a partner, our membership program. Partnership focuses on five biblical principles that we call the 5Gs: Grace, Growth, Groups, Gifts and Good Stewardship. You may complete the self-directed Bible Study found on our website or you may attend our next partnership class Sept. 23 from 9:00 AM - Noon at the PTCC building. Sign up at the Yes! Table today!

ONLINE GIVING
Make your life simpler by automating your giving. Follow the easy directions at www.prestontrail.org to setup for debit or credit card for regular giving and dream big donations. All transactions are secure and will appear on your regular statement.

LIFE GROUPS
Sign up at the Information Table or email info@prestontrail.org and get involved in a group!

Bi-focals and God’s Work

I don’t wear bi-focals … yet. But one day I will probably need to. And when that day comes, I will see things better up close and far away.

Have you ever thought that God wants Christians to wear spiritual bi-focals? He wants us to see things as He sees them, both up close and far away.

Recently this has come into focus for me (pun intended) in a fresh way. I have just returned from a ten-day mission trip to southeast Asia with two other PTCC folks. We went with representatives from five other churches to see how we can participate in God’s work in that distant nation. We saw wonderful signs of God at work in a faraway place …

• A small group of Filipino believers who have moved to Indonesia in order to serve the poor living in rural villages – teaching the men how to farm, the women how to sew, and the children how to read.

• An American believer who is caring for abandoned street children by giving them a safe place to live and creating jobs for them so they can be gainfully employed.

• An Australian believer who is helping to rebuild hope in a community that was devastated by a natural disaster.

All of these servants are showing the love of God to people who were living far away from them. They saw Indonesians as God sees them – precious individuals whom He loves and wants us to serve in His name. There is nothing else that could motivate them to live sacrificially.

While my trip to Indonesia helped me see through the top lens in my spiritual bi-focals, this Sunday’s Git ’r Done Offering helps me see through the bottom lens. God is certainly at work far away, but He is also at work right here in front of us.

The reason for our Git ’r Done offering is to raise enough money to “finish out” our building. And the reason we want to finish out our building is to make more room for people in our community who need to experience God’s love and grace. If we are going to give our lives to help people find and follow Jesus Christ, then we must make plans with them in mind. We must we create outside space for them to park their cars and inside space for them to learn about God. We must build rooms for their children. And we must pay for it! But behind it all will be our willingness to see people in north Texas as God sees them – precious individuals whom He loves and wants us to serve in His name. There is nothing else that could motivate us to give sacrificially.

Let’s all put on our spiritual bi-focals, so we can see what God sees … both up close and far away. Only then will we be able to live and give sacrificially.

See you Sunday,

Paul Basden, senior pastor

Git 'r Done weekly guide available online here

INVITE A FRIEND

ONLINE GIVING
Make your life simpler by automating your giving. Follow the easy directions at www.prestontrail.org to setup for debit or credit card for regular giving and dream big donations. All transactions are secure and will appear on your regular statement.

Read previous Trail Notes here

LISTEN! Preston Trail Podcast
PTCC worship messages are available by subscription to our podcast or for listening on our website. So, if you missed a service, or want to share one with a friend go here and take a listen.
You will have the option of downloading and listening to them on your computer or even subscribe here (or press the iTunes image on the right) to have them come to your computer automatically each time one is added - then play them on your computer or your iPod while you're exercising or driving.

Calendar at a glance...

Oct. 28 Starting Point class 11:00 AM, North Entrance

Oct. 28 Baptism 5pm Lakes Tennis Academy

Nov 4 Discover Preston Trail class

Nov 17-20 Fall Family mission trip Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

Dec. 8 Women's Christmas Brunch 9:30 AM

Dec. 9 Partnership Class