Missions Home and South

The Crew that went south last weekend to use some chainsaws!

You thought that getting dirty for a weekend and working hard would not be fun. But tell that to the bunch of youth and adults who went into Baton Rouge last weekend to clear trees and debir from elderly people's homes. They worked hard. Actully harder than the chainsaws! They burned a few up and dulled all ten chains. There is so much more work to be done in southern Louisiana and Texas. May we not forget about them. Also those who are still rebuilding after Katrina. We have been doing releif work for the past three years are still not finished with that.

THE WHITE HOUSE

For the past few weeks a few of us have been getting together to do homework help at a home in Cedar Grove. Here is a picture of Nikkita. She is in the second grade. I have been working with her on her math and vocabulary. You wouldn't believe how much of impact that this is having on these kids as well as those who go to help. We started up this fall when school started with a hand full of them. This past Tuesday we must of had 15+ as well as 5 youth who came to help. What would happen if just a few more people would dream and give to those who have been forgotten? How would it change the lives of those children, their families and ours? Well we really don't know what will happen. But it sure is good to be involved in that change!

Worm working on homework!

Auggi helps Winikka with homework.

Nikkita poses if front of me after working on the white board on our math.

Hurricane Gustav

Hurricane Gustav...

We certainly have been living in Hurricane recovery mode here at Grace. We spent much of last week supporting two local shelters here in Shreveport. Thanks to everyone who volunteered in time, resouces and gifts of supplies. We were certainly able to accomplish much more as a collective group than as individuals. Also Sarah, Pastor Rob and I were able to travel to Baton Rouge and further south on Friday and Saturday. We set off on a video shoot to collect stories and asses the damage caused to our friends in the south. The destruction is much worse than what is being reported on the news. We witnessed the destruction and devestation from the wind of the storm. Many trees, power poles, roofs and complete homes were destroyd from the wind. There were spots of flooding. But the most distrubing aspects was the destruction of the poorer neighborhoods and the lack of communication of help to these people. However we did find communities and familes that were coping with their needs and situation. This storm was not going to ruin or take their hope. They were cleaning up and coming together to help each other in this time of need. We will certainly be sending groups into these areas for recovery, clean-up and rebuilding. Grace will be sending teams throught the UMCOR office which is working directly with the UMC Disaster Office. Due to the weather this weekend they have suspensed any teams in coming in this weekend. We are gearing up to go the following weekend. If you are interested please call the church office 318-865-2070 and talk with Sarah or Sione. (I will be upadating soon with pictures from our trip.)

Zacchaeus and the Sycamore Tree

Luke 19:1-10

VBS story – we think it is just for kids, this great picture of God’s love and salvation. Remember the little cute song, “Zacchaes was a wee little man, A wee little man he was He. He started to climb a sycamore tree…AND STOPPED!”

Can you imagine if He didn’t climb the tree? Or if there was no tree?

Where I grew up, my parent’s back yard there is an old school playground with all the cool playground equipment, the old swings and huge slides and dangerous tee-ter-totters. But the place that my brothers and I would want to play as children was the big oak tree in the middle of the play yard. We wanted to climb that and explore its branches. To get a better view/perspective than ourselves.

Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, He was searching for a savior.

Too often we as ministry leaders, try to build the church as if we are Jesus. If we build it, do it, or say it they will get it. But we are not the savior.

Possibly it is easier to be a tree than the savior.

Imagine if we are like that sycamore tree, able to lift people up to see Jesus. To let them see God for whom He really is. To step out of the way and let Christ do the redeeming. What a difference our ministries might have. What a difference our church might make in our community.

Jesus didn’t stumble by that Sycamore tree. It is as if it had a divine appointment. When Jesus had arrived at that point He invited Zacchaeus to come down. Not in a tone as if he was in trouble get out of that tree. But as an invitation to join in something greater than the entire world. He offered Zacchaeus peace, community and love in a way that he had never seen before. Salvation and forgiveness came to the home of Zacchaeus.

If we determine success by our numbers, how many pats on the back we get, or the seldom lost being saved. Or that retreat or event was great or wonderful food at the luncheon. Well then salvation will most likely not come to the homes in which we serve. Maybe we just need to be more like that tree. To hear people say, “I see him, and He sees me.” What a great thing that would be.

Invisible Children

This Sunday

January 27, 2008

6-7:30 p.m.

Erin Moreno

w/ Invisible Children

Will be sharing along with youth worship band.

University UMC at Safe Harbor

Lake Charles, LA

I encourage everyone that can to attend this Sunday evening a great opportunity right here in our community. The youth of University United Methodist is hosting an evening with one of their very own Erin Moreno. She is serving with a great orgnization called Invisible Children. They work with reaching to kids of Uganda who have been at war for the past 30 years! Come and hear what God is doing in the country of Uganda and around the world. Also be led in worship by a local youth band. There will be a pizza party from 5:30-6:00 p.m With the actuall program coming after that. I will be attending at 6 p.m. with any youth from FUMC that would like to attend with me.

If you have questions or need more information you can contact Mik Brignac 337-477-2003 or mikeB@universitymethodist.com

Hope to see you all there!

Have you been lately?

Have you been to youth lately? Have you been to Bible study small groups on Wednesday nights? Have you attended Sunday morning class? Have you been to one of our two worship services?

You might be able to answer “Yes,” to all, some, or none of the above listed activities, but does merely going make you a better Christian? Well I guess it really depends on how you define the word better. I would certainly agree that attending these things will improve your life and your week. But too often just attending will not allow you to grow to your fullest potential.

I might instead ask you if you have read your Bible lately? Have you spent time in prayer lately, not only talking to God but listening to Him as well. Have you taken the time to encourage, serve, or meet the needs of someone else? Have you personally found time in your busy schedule just to worship God in everything that you do?

Now this list is much more personal and is as important as the first set of questions. If you are going to make the most of your church going activities, you need to make the same investment in your own personal journey with Christ when you are away from church..

You might ask “Why?” You can not grow into what God is calling you to be with a mere hour or two a week within a Christian building. You need to be in community with other believers throughout your week, learning and doing life together. You need to be reading and expanding not only your mind of God, but your heart as well. God is asking us to serve others as we grow.

Also, when you are growing and deepening your walk with Christ, you are helping your fellow Christians. If you are more in tune with God’s Spirit before you walk through the doors of FUMC, the sharper you will be for God to use you to help, support, and encourage others.

Too often I hear people disappointed in their church, its activities, and its worship. Why is this? Maybe because they are not giving of themselves. Maybe they are concerned only with receiving and not giving.

We live in a very consumerist culture. And the church has become very consumerist as well. We expect God and the church to give us what we need for the week, and we expect it now!
The problem with this thinking is that God never intended this for the church.. When you look at scripture and the structure of the early church, you see a community of people living out their love of God in their community.

We, meaning me as well (guilty), program our lives into compartments. We do church here. We do outreach here. We serve on mission here. We give to the needy here. We learn and study here. Why are these things not just naturally incorporated into our daily lives and a part of the make-up of our families and who we are as individuals?
These are very difficult questions, and I don’t believe I have the answers to all of them. But coming early this next year, we as a church are going to be in a study called “Reconnecting”. I want to strongly encourage everyone to attend and be a part of what God wants to show us through this series. Join a small group, come to church, do your own personal study , and be a part of the Church! What great and wonderful things that God has in store for us. I am excited and hope you are too!

New & Improved

If you haven’t been to the church website lately, you should. Click on over to the new youth pages. We have taken the time to update and improve the content on the website. It has just started to change and much more will follow. We want to create a place where you can get up to the minute info and also get connected with other resources. If you have any suggestions please submit those.

Besides the new website, I want to talk a little about the new you. You may be thinking, “What do you mean the new me? I wasn’t born yesterday!” How true those thoughts are, but how contrary the truth really is. You are new. You do have a new start.

Let me share with you this passage of scripture. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Did you know that when you accepted Christ you became something new; that the old ways of your life are slowly falling away and God is transforming you into His desired “You”. Yes God has a plan for you, and He has a way to change you into this new you. Well you might be thinking that you are not much different, or that you can’t remember what life was like without Christ. Trust me God is transforming you. You can’t escape His work in your life. Many people try avoiding Christ or even try running from Him. But it seems that Christ is always drawing us back to Him. I think that is what is so amazing about His love and grace. I know without His mercy I would be condemned.

It is so great to know that God is a God of second chances. Psalm 103:11-12 says; “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” God has forgiven us. He is transforming us into new people, and He is continuing to improve who we are. Start living a life of freedom, a life of forgiveness, and a life that has been given that second chance. What might God be asking of you? What might He be telling you? Listen and sense His forgiveness and His transformation in your life. Then live it out!

Easter & Forgiveness they sure are good!

Well we are now in Holy Week in the church. Many people see Christmas as the big holiday of the year, but I think as Christians we miss that Easter is the more important holiday. As scripture says in Hebrews 9:22 "without the shedding of blood there cannot be any forgiveness of sins."

How true is that. Christmas Christ enters the world, but at Easter He accomplishes the whole reason why He came. This Easter as we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord may we truly honor and celebrate in a way that it truly deserves.

So we are about to end the Easter season and lent. I propose the question on how did you do this year? Did you give something up? Did you add something? How has your walk been with Christ over these past 40 days? Well for me I have had some up and downs. I don't know if I have really added any good habits to my spiritual life, but I think God has spoken. He surely isn't finished with me yet, never will that be till the day comes that He brings me home. But God continues to show me who I am in light of who He is. That is surely a bigger picture and a better one.

I praise God for His blessings and His continual forgiveness and restoration of my life. For without Easter and His Gift I would surely be lost and condemned! So as we celebrate Easter and then move onto the next big thing in our lives, may we take a little Easter with us into every part of our lives!