Our youth group and childrens ministry have been out in our community getting sponsors for each car they wash. The car wash is FREE and each car they wash earns them more money towards camp. What do you have to loose? Please show up THIS Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the East Campus, and put these kids to work.

And if you did not get a chance to sponsor anyone and would like to, we will be accepting donations at the car wash.

Oh, I forgot to mention, It is FREE!!!!! Bring your car, bring your husbands car, tell your neighbor to bring their car!

See you there!!!

---Maegan

If you attend Sunday mornings and are interested in giving rides as needed, or if you attend church on Saturday evenings and would like to sign up to bring ladies from the La vista house to church, call me, Maegan, at the office for more information on how you can get involved. 951-929-2135.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35 NIV
--Shoulder to Shoulder,
                    Maegan :)

(If you didn’t get a ticket, we are so sorry, but we are SOLD OUT).
*Do not forget to bring your donation items for the restart center. Here are some of the things they are in need of: Non-perishable food items (Macaroni and cheese, box potatoes, cereal, Peanut butter, jelly, top romen, canned tuna), plastic utensils, paper plates, blankets, adult socks, baby food, good strong can openers.
*You will get a raffle ticket for each item brought!*
* DO NOT forget to dress up in your 80’s get up. Rat your hair, layer those socks, and throw that blue eye shadow on, go all out so that maybe, you can win a prize for the best 80s get up!
* Our 80s BUNCO BASH starts tonight at 6:30p.m.  See you then!
We are going to have a blast, it’s going to Be TOTALLY RAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  I was in a season not too long ago, where I felt like I had many enemies that I had to face daily. I knew God had brought me to this place for a reason, and I could not understand why I had to be under such attack? My first instinct was to attack back. But instead, I asked God what He wanted me to do. Through His Word, wise Christ centered counsel, and through Christian teachings, I heard loud and clear, He wanted me to love the unlovable.

  As people were scowling at me and mocking me (some to my face, and some behind my back), I had to smile and pray for them. People were tearing me down so they would look better. The more this happened, the more practice I got, until it became a little more of a natural response. Loving our enemies is not natural for us. We cannot do it on our own power, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 I think that one of the most over looked Commandments in the Bible is the commandment to LOVE one another, even the ugly.

  We have kind of gotten into a “Love Rut”. We think love is a feeling, an emotion we only have to show when we “feel” like it, or we only have to show to those that love us. That is one of the greatest lies we are being fed.
Jesus showed His love for us by being brutally tortured to His death on the Cross for the sins that we committed.
     Love is a sacrifice; it is not just a feeling. You can make a conscious decision to love the unlovable. You can make a choice that you will practice LOVE and ask for the Lords help.

You have heard that it was said ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…….If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mathew 5:43-48 NIV)

     As I began to pray for those who persecuted me, a couple things happened. One thing that happened was that God opened doors for them; He opened doors for them that took them away from me. He also opened my eyes to their hurt, their pain. Some of these people were being nasty to push me away, and when I stood firm (through Christ’s strength) and loved them anyway, they really opened up and we became close.
     The best part was that as I started praying for my persecutors, instead of them having a negative affect over me, those who wished to hurt me were bringing me closer and closer to the Lord. Their harmful intentions were bringing me into the presence of my maker.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18)

Maegan Bourlett
 

I love that! Sometimes, I think we forget about eternity, and that we are all going to be there together someday. We need to unite, love, and encourage each other until then. Not only to help one another here on earth, but also to further God’s purpose in reaching out to those who do not know him.
Is there someone who can use your encouragement today? Is there someone you need to ask to help encourage you? Maybe, there is someone who has been driving you crazy and you need to encourage them, for your sake as much as theirs?
As I read through the Gospel this summer, I was blessed to be able to learn more about Christ, and who He was. It amazed me that, the night before he was betrayed, beaten, and mocked, for our sin, he was there encouraging his disciples. He was worrying about us and how we would do without him, then sent us the Holy Spirit as a counselor to be with us while we wait for His return.
I pray that you will be encouraged by Christ and His selfless love for us. And that today, YOU will be the encourager.

Don’t forget! We are reading through our bible together as a church this year. If you would really like to be encouraged through His word daily, it is not too late! Today we are reflecting (or catching up) on Mark chapters 1-5.

"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."  Mark 4:24-25 NIV

LOVE YOU!!!!!!! --Maegan :)

I have to tell you, one of my guilty pleasures is Mariah Carey’s Christmas album. It is so soulful, and I just love it! It is all that I play about this time of year, and I love singing right along with Mariah and pretending to keep up. I turn her up so loud that I fool myself to thinking her and I sound the same. How I would LOVE to be able to belt out a tune about Christ that way.

I have to say, there is something that strikes me odd every year about this time. It’s when I hear a certain artist singing about the birth of our Savior; one who doesn’t seem to acknowledge Him by there actions or words the rest of the year. Or even might actually admit to not believing in Him, and is in a religion that denies him. I want to enjoy the words because I know they are true, but knowing this person doesn’t believe, makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
Maybe they are doing it for the money, or publicity, I mean, it is a definite hit. They know their fans will buy it because they already love the songs, right? Or maybe they grew up with those songs and love them and think the fictional little story about Christ is so cute and warm. I don’t know.

Why do you sing about the birth of Christ? Is it because you believe it? Is it a time of remembrance and worship to our King born to us on Christmas day? Is it because it is just a Christmas tradition, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without it?

Why do you worship on Sunday morning? Is it because some of the worship songs have become your favorite songs? Is it because you love music? Is it because you love to sing and that gives you the opportunity? Or is it because you long to gather with your church family and worship the Almighty Savior, shoulder to shoulder?

When my kids were younger I was often late to church. Trying to get out the door on time for church seemed to take a talent I did not have.  But I thought as long as I was on time for the message, I was good. See, because I thought the worship was for me or an intro to play while people were entering church. I did not realize the importance of time spent worshiping my King.  John 4:24 says this “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (NIV)

I am so excited to have Sarah Kelley at the East Campus this weekend!! I had the privilege to worship with her when she was at the West Campus, and it is evident that this artist worships in spirit and truth.

I want to encourage you to come early this weekend, grab a cup of coffee, and hang out. That way you will not miss one moment of worship. And during this season, as we sing along to the words of Oh Holy Night, Silent Night and Joy to the World, let’s not forget why we are singing!

He truly is the reason for the season!

--Maegan Bourlett :)

Even though  faith is not 'inherited' by one generation from the last like a gene (God has no grandchildren), our hearts and minds are prepared by others to hear the gospel of the glory of Christ and receive the gift of salvation. Timothy's heart and mind had been prepared from infancy (2 Timothy 3:15) by his grandmother and his mother to receive the gift of sincere faith. Wow, what a legacy!

On the other hand, Peter says there is an empty way of life that can be handed down (1 Peter 1:18). The legacy of those who don't know and trust Christ is like an empty gift box--meaningless. Apart from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit nothing given has eternal significance. My life can be a 'splendid torch' for this generation and burn out in the brief time I'm on this earth.  The Bible says the truth of God's Word is the Light! So in this world of darkness here is the splendid torch-take it and pass it on!
 
For God...made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
 
---Diane Laxen

 Hey, have you ever heard a song so many times and then all of a sudden one day it totally grabs you? As if you are hearing it for the first time? These are the lyrics to a popular song on Air1 that grabbed me today as I was working.
“I use one hand to pull you closer, the other to push you away. If I had two hands doing the same thing, lifted high, lifted high.”
That just so struck me, because isn’t that the truth? When we go to Bible study, or church, or we are spending time alone in His word, we are pulling Him closer. Then, what are we doing when we are alone, at home, or at work that is just pushing Him away? Anything come to mind? Let’s GET RID OF IT!! And bask in the Glory of our Lord with “Two hands lifted high”.

Have a great weekend!!!!

---Maegan Bourlett :)

We know we are to live by faith (Galatians 2:20), keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and serve by the strength that God supplies (1 Peter 4:11). Or to say it another way, we are to trust Christ, we are to be helped by the Holy Spirit, and we are to serve others by the strength God supplies so that “in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). But how does that work itself out hour by hour especially in times and situations that feel stressful, challenging, or tempting?

“Picture yourself facing some challenge now. A confrontation with an antagonist. A difficult visit to the doctor. A chance to tell someone about what Christ means to you. A lesson to teach. A job to apply for. An exam to take. A move to make. Too many things to do in one day. Etc!! What do you do so that when the challenge is past and the day is done, you can say, I lived by faith; I walked by the Spirit; I served in the strength that God supplied; to him be the glory?”

“Every day there are obstacles to making the right choice: fear, pride, addiction to comfort-and these come in all shapes and sizes.”

When you are faced with a challenge or temptation do APTAT.
A: ADMIT you need Christ’s help (John 15:5).
P:  PRAY for God’s help (Psalm 50:15).
T: TRUST the promises of God.  We need an arsenal of promises ready to use such as Isaiah 41:10.
A:  ACT in faith based on a promise of God. Go ahead; ACT (2 Cor. 3:5).
T: THANK God giving him the glory for the outcome (Colossians 3:17).

If this seems like it would be helpful to you I suggest putting the basics on a 3X5 card and carry it with you until practice becomes a first response.    -- Diane Laxen

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17 NIV

For more help go to desiringgod.org and type APTAT in the search box