There’s often more to it than just these two things, but EVERY Monday involves at least these two things:

LOOKING BACK. 

We review, evaluate and talk through what worked, what didn’t and what needs to be done better. On a personal level I do something similar. My mind flashes back to certain things that happened over the weekend. For example, here’s few things that flew through my brain today:

I loved the worship experience at the East Campus! Ron and the “old dudes” really brought it! What I heard at the West Campus with Jeff was great too, but I only caught two songs.

Even though I was late getting back to the 10:45 service, it all worked out. The team was totally flexible and kept things going while I was sitting at traffic lights throughout the valley.

The message was exhausting. It’s completely and utterly draining to talk about heaven AND hell. Glad I did though. God was in the house!

I never get tired of seeing people get baptized as they give their lives to Jesus!!! Congratulations Dakota and Manny!

LOOKING AHEAD. 

We’re starting a brand new series this coming weekend and I’ve been working on some ways to get the word out. We’ve got something special for you in a couple of days that I’m working on today. But I’ve also been thinking...

With all the new people who are coming to Community, how are we doing with getting them truly connected?

I’ve sat and listened to the laughter in the office and been pleased to know that I work day in and day out with people I love.

I felt like closing my door and having an extended “quiet time”. (That’s spiritual code for a NAP!)

I’ve looked further into the future and been doing some correspondence on our upcoming Kenya trip. 

I’ve shared this with you for no other reason than to ask you to continue to pray. Every day...PRAY! We cannot do all that we feel God is calling us to do without Him!

Psalm 127:1a (NIV) Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. 

They’ve got to know the bad news as well. The good and bad news is right here in this one little verse. After reading it...ask yourself: SO WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.” -John 3:36 (NIV) 

By the way, this weekend we’ll be talking about what to do with this!

I just finished reading Acts this morning. Often I go back through the book/letter I just finished to see what stands out in the big picture. The one verse that jumped off the page and grabbed my full attention was Acts 4:12:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 

Everything throughout the pages of Acts point to this truth. When it comes to our church here at Community, let’s not settle for anything less that the high calling of sharing Jesus. 

Let's keep the main thing, the main thing!

Mikel Homa joined our staff 3 years ago today. I truly appreciate this guy and his friendship. His wife, Leslie, and their boys Liam and Asher are simply a blast to be around. 

So to Mikel, Leslie and the boys, I just want to say. THANK YOU & I LOVE YOU! 

Here's what one writer said about the church that I just had to pass on to you:

“Christ’s church still holds the hope of the world in its hands. The hope that a distrustful, cynical, relativistic, broken, isolated group of people can be restored by the grace of God into a beautiful portrait of his family—not yet perfect—but undeniably more at home!” -John Burke

“As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self‑control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” -Acts 24:25

“When I find it convenient...” WOW. What a declaration of who’s more important in his life. I don’t think Felix realized what he was saying about himself in that instance, but it was abundantly clear that he was uncomfortable with the discussion and he preferred to be comfortable. So...maybe later? Maybe.

I have to wonder how much of my understanding of God is halted by my unwillingness to be uncomfortable. How much of my study is stunted because I know what I want to know and am not sure I want to know more...because it might change things. The closer I get to God...the more I HAVE TO CHANGE.

Dear Father, please continue to teach me, stretch me, mold me. I want nothing of a life that stops short of really knowing you when you have so much more for me. I am far too concerned about me and not enough about you. May that change. 

Video reports

News and updates

Here are some other updates to pass on:

HOW SAMARITAN’S PURSE IS RESPONDING...

Samaritan’s Purse immediately mobilized the Incident Management Team (IMT). Our efforts-to-date include:

The food surge that Samaritan’s Purse has been conducting in partnership with the World Food Program ended Saturday. On the last day of distribution, the team provided 145 tons of food to 5,791 families—the largest single distribution we have conducted since the earthquake. The total amount of food distributed through this project since Jan. 31 is 1,474 tons to 60,601 families/353,646 people in Cite Soleil.

All cargo from the second ship has been released and removed from the port.

The past few days, the team has worked hard to get the non-food items from the second ship distributed as quickly as possible. The total distributed in the past three days is 4,750 sheets of 20’x20’ plastic, 550 buckets, 48 hygiene kits, and 122 blankets.

The team in Grand Goave has removed a total of 2,550 m3 of rubble, and two buildings in this area—a church and a college—have been completely cleared of debris.

We currently have 170 Haitians employed in a Cash-for-Work program in Grand Goave to clear debris from roads. To date, they have cleared 282m3 of rubble from four miles of roads.

The team has completed 149 latrines in Grand Goave and Leogane. The have also conducted 50 hygiene education sessions in communities receiving latrines.

We have begun assessing the needs in Titanye to determine how we might be able to help in that area.

Team members met with the mayor of Leogane Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the CHURCH has been battered and bruised down through the years from within. Fights and arguments, selfish agendas and petty missions have derailed the CHURCH from it’s focus and power. But with all of the trouble...there are some bright spots. I think our valley is one of them.

This past Sunday night, churches from all over our valley met together to worship and to prepare to make a difference. We sang TOGETHER, prayed TOGETHER, participated in communion TOGETHER, and experienced a sense of God’s mission TOGETHER.

I love the fact that I can meet with a group of pastors from several different churches each week to pray, study and take communion TOGETHER. Sunday night was one of about three times a year when our churches all worship TOGETHER...and it’s definitely special.

I can’t wait to see how God uses us on April 25th when we, TOGETHER, reach out to our valley in love on a day we’re calling: THE BIG SERVE. 

The weather has been ideal. I was hoping for a little more fresh snow, but can’t complain. 

Even while we’ve been away, I’ve been looking forward to getting back. Here’s why:

I can’t wait to hang out with everyone at our West Campus this weekend. The new time of 10 am seems to really be a good thing.

Also, Sunday night, I’ll be speaking at The Dwelling Place Church at 6 pm. All the churches in our valley who are going to participating in THE BIG SERVE (April 25) will be represented. Should be a great time. I love it when THE CHURCH of our valley gets together to worship!

See you soon!!! 

You can listen to this song and follow along with the lyrics: ABOUT MIDNIGHT

You can also read of Paul and Silas' adventure in Acts 16:25

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 

The whole story takes place in Acts 16:16-40.

Why not praise God in the midst of our most difficult days? Have you tried it?