Organic Church

I'm reading Organic Church by Neil Cole and found some interesting thoughts.

"If you want to win this world to Christ, you have to sit in the smoking section."

He tells about a church whose choir went to the mall to sing Christmas Carols as an outreach. There were no conversations with people, no relationships started, just the singing. Cole says "Like a flight attendant at the start of every flight, the choir was announcing important information of life-and-death significance to people who took no time to listen becuase they'd been innoculated to it."

Praises #170 -

#170 - $2,500 worth of soccer equipment and $1,100 was raised by a college student to help our ministry!
#171 -
Talking to one of our supporters, Richard explained that expenses for the ministry were high this summer and there was a real need for extra support. The next day this family sent $2000 to our mission! That was more than 2/3 of the amount needed.
A few days after the $2,000, Richard was talking to another supporter and he said he could send $1000! Along with the other gift, that covered 3/5 of the need!

Praises #158 - #169

#168- our friend and supporter, Chip, got a job! He says "I have been 100% restored to my position/title I hadat [my old job ] -- God certainly engineered circumstance after circumstance to protect me to be in a position to receive the offer and accept the position. (If the other bank had not delayed, I'd be there now.) Again, I was down to hours before Iwould have had to accept a lesser position if I had not received thewritten offer from [name of bank] Tuesday afternoon."

#167 - Got a positive answer to an important request.
#166 - We had a really nice overnight with Joy & Ricky at the beach. We had wanted to go one more time with them (just us) before she graduates and there was barely a weekend available from now until graduation (May 30th)! The weather was perfect and we had no problems traveling.
#165 - We had a good meeting of AIS-Haiti. We received 6 proposals from regional groups for their ministry plans for the year.
#164- Richard and Ronald William (coach at Maranatha & on our board) went to Leogane to meet with the regional committee' there. They even have a woman on their committee. They had a done a good job on their plan for the year and together they made a plan to raise 50% of the funds needed.
# 163- Cheri Kay got passports & visas for her adopted children.
#162 We found out who the mysterious donation was from--a very generous friend of our co-workers whom we met when she came here to Haiti last year to volunteer her time at our CrossWorld retreat. We're so humbled that she and her husband would remember us and our ministry and give so generously.
#161 For the past three months we have received record amounts in donations in spite of the financial difficulties in the US!
#160 - We were praying for direction for Joy as far as colleges and we got a "no" on Wheaton, even though they haven't accepted or denied her yet. She went to visit and it was obvious it was not for her. Noes are answers too. :)
#159 - Joy had a good trip to Chicago and got back safely.
#158 We received a $1000 donation from a "mystery" donor! (The record shows the company name, but we don't recognize it)

Meditation for today from Eccl. 5 & inspired from students' questions

I had told the kids what a great kid Josh is and how Joy was just saying (right before the accident) that she appreciated how she can count on him for worship time and that he has such a great attitude. So when I share what happened, one student asked "Then why did God let this happen to him?" I didn't have a good answer then, but I kind of wish I had said "because we're not in heaven yet." since I didn't have time for a long answer. From that and other responses I've had I was thinking it might be good to mention some things like:

-bcs we're on earth, not in heaven, God is still allowing sin to affect us. This is because he is still allowing us free will. One day that will end and those who have trusted in him will go to be with Him in heaven

God is still sovereign over all that happens, he has the power to intervene and prevent bad things from happening and he loves us all so much that he wants to bless us. His love and desire to bless us do not depend on our good actions or good attitude or strong faith.

challenges

Being sick has been a real challenge to my lent goals.