Think you've had a bad day...

I found this story online today. It serves as a great reminder that whenever you are having a bad day...someone else is having a day like this man.

Man crashes at driveway, sees home catch fire, gets ticket
The Associated Press

Rock Island, Tenn. — A Rock Island man whose car was hit as he tried to make a left turn into his driveway saw his home going up in flames as he was airlifted to the hospital. Tennessee Highway Patrol officer Monte Terry said Justin Hill, 42, was hit by an oncoming car when he pulled into its path on Tuesday evening.

Hill's wife heard the crash and ran outside, leaving the kitchen stove, where she had been cooking, unattended.

Within minutes, the trailer was on fire, and firefighters who had responded to the accident found themselves fighting the blaze.

The home had extensive damage. Hill was treated and released from the hospital, but he was cited in the accident for failure to yield.

In Touch With My "Artsy" Side

Every month or two, my small group comes up with a service project to work on. We started this after our Faith In Action series last fall which challenged us to "be the church" instead of just going to church.

Last Thursday we took our regular study time (we have been going through the book of Hebrews) and made cards for troops in Iraq. I have to say...I'm not the artsy type, but I had fun. Thanks to April and her bucket of cool scrapbooking "tools" I was able to create a card all by myself! Billy took a picture with his cellphone so I could have proof to show Carrie, who was home sick.

Serving has become an important part of our group's identity. I guess that comes as we...individually and corporately...grow to be more like Christ. How can one seek to have a heart like Jesus and not find ways to serve others?

I have to admit, however, that I sometimes struggle with the idea of Christians doing "service projects." We have to purposely remind ourselves that this scheduled act of sevice that fits perfectly into our life and usually doesn't cost us much money or effort does not replace a life of service. These projects often leave me with a sense that I have done something good...I have checked that box off and it lasts for a while.

With every mission trip I have been a part of...either going on the trip or having a group come to work with me...I have made a point to remind the participants that what you do on a mission trip is not as important as how it changes your life when you get back. I believe it is the same with service projects. They should change our perspective on how we live the rest of our life.

What do you think? Am I thinking too much on this? That is totally possible!

What's In A Number?

6,701.

125.

There is a big difference between those numbers.

I have been thinking about those two numbers all week.

Over Easter weekend, we had 6,701 people in our worship services. They piled into our comfortable, yet crowded, sanctuary to hear a message and sink what were, for most, familiar songs. There was ministry provided for kids from birth to 4th grade which was incredible. It was all about making everyone feel welcome and "at home" at Christ's Church.

Then there were the approximately 125 people. This is the team that has kept me challenged all week. This team of individuals from Christ's Church...mostly from our Celebrate Recovery ministry...chose to spend their Easter Sunday in a not so comfortable environment. They were ministering to the homeless of Jacksonville at the City Rescue Mission in a tent set up outside their downtown building. Christ's Church was asked provide the service. We took it a step further by providing socks for everyone as they were leaving and lunch.

6,701 people attending and 125 ministering to about 100 homeless.

In my head I want to try and compare those numbers and ask which was better. I believe in my heart, however, that God is pleased we where both in the church and outside the church.

I am proud of my church, but the real challenge is to rest on this act of service, but to continually seek ways to make it a way of life.

Out of the church and into the community where people are hurt and broken.

Communion with Apple Juice and Bread

Today I had the privilege of being the minister at a small family memorial service for Violet Long, or Granny, as I was introduced to her.

Violet lived 92 beautiful years. She spent the first 17 years of her life in an orphanage. She was full of love and I enjoyed hearing all the stories from her family.

I first met Violet just over two weeks ago. Her family invited me over to see her and have communion...except I didn't know I would be having communion with them. Since I didn't show up prepared to lead in communion, we ended up taking the Lord's Supper using apple juice in dixie cups and a slice of bread cut into squares.

This communion experience reminded me that what matters most is the heart and not hte emblems. I don't want to get focused on making sure I do everything so right that I forget people in the process.

That is one lesson I learned from my time with Granny.

A Heartfelt Prayer Request

My good friend and one of the ministers at our church, Arron Chambers, posted on his blog about a friend of his in Myanmar.

Judah came with Arron and his wife, Rhonda, to one of our flag football games last March when he was visiting them. I remember watching him play flag football with the kids, even though he didn't really know much about the game. It was fun to watch.

I don't know Judah, but my heart breaks for the circumstance he, and so many other believers, find themselves in right now.

Please take time to read the story Arron placed in his website and then commit to pray for Judah.

Some Special Teens

We have some special teens at our church.

The more I spend time with them, the more impressed I am by them. Three of the teens (Lindsey Marks, Sarah Joseph, and Jordan Stancil) all came up to our Camden County Campus this morning to join us in worship. I appreciated their encouragement and so did the members of that campus.

Not only did they come up, but they want to help out however they can. They want to help with the kids and youth ministries on this smaller campus.

OK...all of that is cool, but it doesn't compare to their compassionate heart.

Two Saturdays ago, Lindsey and Jordan decided they wanted to serve our community so they went and bought bread and stuff to make sandwiches. After making about 30 lunches they went downtown Jacksonville to pass them out to those who were homeless and hungry.

That is being the hands and feet of God. It is easy to walk away or to put ideas like that in the back of your mind while getting busy with something else. Instead, they acted on the idea. They put their faith in action.

In doing so, they set an example for all other believers to follow.

To those teens: For what it is worth...I am so proud to be friends with you guys!!!!