church, where is it?

Another week has flown by, wow. Hope everybody has had a blessed time this week. What struggles have you turned over to God? Or are you still hanging on to them.

Momma T reported she had a good turnout for breakfast last Saturday. You just never know what each day will bring. Momma T's help did not show up on time, but God brought a new person and they cooked breakfast together. It was a blessing.

Matt said the visits with our outdoor friends went well. Unfortunately, Dale's camp has been told they will have to move. Turner's camp is also moving. Railroad people and state people are moving the camps. Joey has tried to find out why, but as yet has not been able to get any answers.

Sunday afternoon, Krysten and Joey brought several of the community kids to the Highland neighborhood to watch one of the Mardi Gras parades. By the look of the smiles on the children's faces and all the beads around their necks, everybody had a great time. Pictures are on our face book page.

With the spring like temperatures this week, our afternoon tutoring has taken on outside play time. In fact, Ms Lisa was a trooper as she was the only one to show up Tuesday. She had 15 kids running relays and keeping them busy for an hour. Way to go Ms Lisa.

Matt, his son Eric and a friend Blade, Joey and mr brian were involved Tuesday afternoon moving Dale's camp. Really moving Tim and David, Dale was still reluctant to move. Under the bridge has been Dale's home for over 5 years and he was struggling with the fact he was having to move. Matt and Joey went back Wednesday to persuade Dale to move and got him to spend the night at their new camp but Dale was still not sold on the idea.

Tuesday evening, the men of the community met and shared what was on their minds and hearts. Matt read about how we need to humble ourselves, lift others up, and all use the gifts God has given us to glorify His name. In so doing, we all will be blessed beyond our imagination.

Thursday afternoon at our meal time was awesome. We had the pleasure of having Spencer Keller, a long time friend of ours from Brookwood come and share his gift of song with us during our chapel time. We have purchased a new portable sound system which we used for the first time. Mr Scott from Grace let us borrow his projector and Joey displayed the words on the brick wall. The chapel was filled with God's people praising God, it was awesome. A video will be coming. Thank you Spencer, Mr Scott and Joey for using your gifts.

Ms Sarah brought some of the youth and young adults from Grace as they helped serve supper. Supper was supplied by one of our churches. Pete shared ashes with us and we received the mark of Christ. We had Ash Thursday, hope God doesn't mind we missed it by a day. We all had a great time.

Ms Sarah and the young adults will cook, serve and lead worship on the third Thursday in March. Very exciting.

We continued our mountaintop experience from chapel into our Bible study as Joey led us in the reading in Ephesians. I am still amazed that God lvoes us so much, He provides away for us to be a part of Him through His Spirit who lives with in us.

Prayer concerns, William as he continues to recover from his addictions, Ms Abbie and Joe. She took Joe to the hospital Thursday morning for congestive heart failure again. Fluid is building back up and he was having a hard time breathing, Dr Phil recovering from sickness. Prayers for those who struggle with depression and dealing with life issues. Prayers for Dale, Tim and David as they are having to deal with a change of a new camp and new surroundings. Lomax on his travels in California. Beth's dad, at the age of 93, dealing with the sickness of his wife and becoming the care giver, Pat, one of the teachers of our adult education class, deals with sickness in her grand children. Ms Sarah and Momma T as they lead the youth in a retreat this weekend.

This weekend, Brookwood is having their Mission Fair. It will be Saturday night and Sunday morning. Common Ground will have a booth set up. If any of you would like to come and stand by the booth and meet and great, please feel free to do so. Ms Abbie and mr brian will be there around 5:30 Saturday night. Ms Lisa, Joey 8'ish Sunday morning and not sure who will be there for 11.

Church, where is it. For many months I have been thinking about church. I am in my truck all day every day riding around the city and country side. The one common theme I have noticed with churches is that they are closed all week. Most have gates across their driveways, fences around their property, and doors locked. Usually I do not get out on Sundays, but I was this past week. I noticed as I drove around, the parking lots that sit empty all week, that are gated and closed up Monday through Friday, are filled with cars and people. It felt strange to me to see this activity and got me to thinking, church and where is it?

We have been taught, we are the church, so go forth and be the disciples of Christ during the week. And I hear, hard to tell a Christian Monday through Friday, so where is the church? When someone needs help, who has no one, where do they go for help? Usually they think about a church, but what if the doors are locked, where do they go? When life is dealing you the worst possible hand you could have, you have lost all hope, where do you turn? You start to look for some help, you see a church where the doors are locked, but the liquor store next to the church is open. Where is the church?

One of our challenges as we move forward along God's path, is to be available, to be open, to lvoe all the time. Not when it is convenient for us but all the time. Some will say, that's great, but that takes money to pay people to do that. I am not convinced that it does. God is showing us daily, He will bring people into our lives with special gifts. Our challenge is to use these new and unique gifts in the building of God's Kingdom. It may not look the way we thought. It may not happen the way we had planned. But if we are obedient, then God will provide and all things will be possible.

Exciting times are ahead of us. God has plans for our community, our center, our lives beyond what we could ever imagine. Exciting because we do not know, but have faith. Exciting because we have each other, traveling together, lifting each other up. Exciting because we have a God who is awesome, lvoing and compassionate, wanting only the best for us all. This will take everybody, those who have traveled with us so far and those who have yet to come. Please come, join in on the fun and be a part of God's church. Church, where is it? It is in the hands and feet of us, in the hearts of the ragamuffins of Christ, following a God that will lead us to new beginnings.

Have a great weekend and a great week. See you around the community. Amen.