Youth Mission Outings

We worked hard up at the Christian Help Center.
This was all in downtown Roxboro.
We didn't get all the paint on the walls.
To God be the glory, honor and power.

Ephesians 2.11-22

This coming Sunday I will be preaching from Ephesians 2.11-22. This is one of the most beautiful passages in all the Bible when it talks of the reconciliation that is found at the cross. Verse 14 puts it this way: "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us." The two groups that Paul is referring to are the circumcised and the uncircumcised (v 11). But, isn't it beautiful how Paul puts that ----- it is in the body of Jesus [in his flesh] that the dividing wall can be done away with. Can you imagine that in your life? The dividing wall being destroyed between you and your enemy ----- you and your spouse ----- you and the bully at school ----- between white folk and black folk ----- between the Sunnis and the Shiites ----- between parent and child. And Paul says that this dividing wall is destroyed in Jesus' flesh. How do you think the world would look if this was realized?

Youth Mission Outings

Last night (which was Sunday) we kicked off Vacation Bible School at Warren's Grove. Our theme is Camp E.D.G.E. It was awesome and I am looking forward to tonight as well. The youth group all did something different. We went out and did highway clean-up. You can see how good we did with this picture above. I would love to have any of the rest of you come out as well. We are going to be painting at the Christian Help Center, going visiting at the Nursing Homes and then we are having a big lake party on the last night. I look forward to seeing you all then.

Ephesians 1.3-14

This Sunday I will be preaching from Ephesians 1.3-14. As I have been reading through this passage of scripture a few things have stuck out to me. First of all in verse 13 it says: "In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit." How do you think we are marked today when we hear the truth of the gospel and believe? Also, verse 9 sticks out to me where it says: "he has made known to us the mystery of his will." What is the mystery of God's will for us? This is a rich passage for us and I am truly enjoying diving into this study. Come and journey with me.

Camp E.D.G.E.

Camp E.D.G.E. is starting up for us this Sunday, July 12th at 6pm. I hope you all can come out and experience God in a new and awesome way. If you have any questions check out our website: www.warrensgroveumc.org

Check this stuff out

I love the face recognition thing.

Declaration

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

A-1 Commercial

This is something that is really not designed for WikiWorship ----- but this was made by two local Youth For Christ folks and also I just thought it was hilarious. Enjoy!

2 Corinthians 12.1-10

This Sunday I will be preaching from 2 Corinthians 12.1-10. This passage is the one where Paul talks about someone being caught up into the third heaven. I have always assumed that this was Paul talking in some sort of cryptic language about himself being the one who is caught up. And if that is the case then I wonder about verse 4 that reads: "was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat." What did Paul hear that he could not repeat to mere mortals? And why in the world does he tell the Corinthians about this experience if he cannot share it with them? I would love to hear what you all think.

Working at the Wesley House

We had a chance to go and work at the Wesley House in Durham today. We had a small crowd that ended up showing up----but we honestly jammed on some work. We got a wall ready to be laid and also cleared some property in the back. We were flat out hot and sweaty. We look tough.

2 Corinthians 8.1-15

On Sunday I will be preaching from 2 Corinthians 8.1-15. Hear verses 1 & 2: "We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part." Macedonia seems to have something going right. I wonder what that is? If you continue reading that same chapter you will see that they even begged Paul to let them bless him ----- even though it sounds like they had very little. Have you all ever noticed that the people that have the very least are the most generous?

Getting back into the swing of things

For the last two weeks I kind of cleared my schedule of a lot of things so that I could spend time with the new addition to the family. Nathan is doing very well and he now is 10 days old!!! Thank you to all of you for your cards and your support. It has truly been a blessing to me and my family. But now I am back to work and I am really excited about what God is doing at Warren's Grove. So keep up with the blog and you will start to see some of those wonderful things. Please be in prayer that we will still seek to be in the center of God's will in all that we do.