WOW!

WOW!! I'll say it again backwards ... WOW!! What an awesome concert last night that the Mountain Mission School choir shared with 192 wonderfully blessed people! We had several from area churches here to join us for the amazing night and the offering for the school was great.

A very special THANK YOU to all who helped in the Kitchen to feed the crew dinner ... to Gene for getting everything set up, clean up and locked up! And to all who helped with housing. God is Good! In spite of a couple set-backs in housing, we still had more than enough beds for all of the kids! Thank you ... thank you!!!

If you missed the concert - shame on you!!! I've already had folks ask when we can do a missions trip to Grundy and that is something we'll check into. I think it would be a tremendous opportunity.

Well ... have a great weekend and don't forget - this Sunday is not JUST April Fools Day -- but it is also Palm Sunday --- and we have some special things planned for worship. Don't miss it!

See you then
Pastor Todd

An Upgrade

I have my home page set to MSN so that I can catch up on the news each day. I always try to find time to tab over to the "Peculiar Postings." The other day I came across this headline ... "Woman Upgraded After Dying in Coach." That almost screams out READ ME!!!

So I did! It would seem that an elderly woman, flying with her daughter from Dehli to London, expired after take-off. Instead of landing the plane at another airport - (I would assume that simply landing in a foreign country to drop off a dead body is frowned upon in most parts of the world) - they moved her corpse to first class ... along with her daughter who was quite obviously grieving the loss of her mother. A passenger woke up to "a shock when he found himself sitting near a corpse."

To make matters worse ... the article continued ... that due to turbulence, the body kept slipping out of the seat belt and onto the floor. The "shocked" passenger said, "it was horrific. The body had to be wedged in place with lots of pillows."

Perhaps the line that caught my attention the most, however, was this from British Airways ... "they chose the option they thought would cause least disruption."

Hmmm ... moving a corpse from Coach to First class. Yeah, I suppose that would be too disrupting! But then again ... it has happened before. Well - maybe not with a corpse, but I do seem to remember a story about a Guy who went from first class to coach to baggage and back to first class again. And if I remember the story correctly - I seem to remember Him saying that if we wanted to go from coach to first class - we could do that too! And the incredible thing is that we wouldn't have to pay any extra - He had already paid for the upgrade! In fact, He even said, "I AM the way!"

I've put in for my upgrade ... how about you?

Have a Happy Day!
Todd

March Madness

I love this time of the year! In the words of Dick Vitale ... "It's March Madness babeeeeee!" There's just something about college basketball that I really like. I really don't have an absolute favorite like some do ... although I try to follow the biggies ... Duke, North Carolina, Florida - of course, Tennessee!

I think what appeals to me is that they really try! I mean, when you see guys throwing everything they have for 40-minutes to win a game - that's exciting. I really don't watch much of the pro's anymore. For what compensation they receive, I don't think there is an adequate return. They have lost the joy of playing the game for the fun of it and seem to be more caught up in the paycheck that comes at the end of the week.

I know a few Christians who are still in college - Praise God! They still hustle every time they are on the court. They don't let some guard stop their pursuit of sinking a "three:sixteen pointer" or shooting a GRACEful FREEthrow into the open bucket of someone's heart. Their zealousness is based in keeping their eye on the prize before them.

I know a few Christians who are "pro's" too. They have signed their name to the contract and feel quite confident that their "paycheck" will be there regardless of how hard they play the game. If they foul out early - it really doesn't matter to them because they'll still draw their compensation.

So ... "it's March Madness babeeeee!" Are you with me? Let's play for the title! Let's "keep our eyes on the prize before us." Our Head Coach continues to cheer us on! Let us keeping shooting - keep pressing forward - keep up the faith. It may only be a couple of 20-minute halves away before the clock expires and the horn sounds for the last time!

Have a GREAT weekend!
Pastor Todd

Being Stoned

Have you ever been "stoned"? Oh - now come on - you know what I'm talking about - get your mind out of the gutter!!!! Seriously, this past Sunday, I preached on the passage in John 8 that talks about the Pharisees bringing a sinful woman before Jesus - in order to trap Jesus. The proper punishment was to be stoned ... and apparently, they came prepared.

The more I have thought about that, I've come to realize that many times when we "bring people to Jesus" in prayer or in 'conversation' - we come just like the Pharisees did. What I mean is this ... we bring our stones with us. We say "Lord - this person has sinned and the good book says they should be punished ... now what do YOU say?"

I wonder if we will ever really hear His words, "let the one who is without sin cast the first stone"? He's been saying it so long and yes - I readily admit to casting a stone or two. And yes, I have felt the sting of one or two hitting me.

There is only one who is adequately qualified to cast stones our way - that's why I hope I'm never stoned!

You think about that!!!

Pastor Todd

The Tomb of Jesus Christ?

I read with great interest the post yesterday from MSNBC in regard to the supposed find that producer James Cameron is propogating. In particular, I was intrigued by the article caption ... "A book and movie allege the final resting place of Mary, Joseph and the King of Kings has been found. Controversy to follow." You think!? "Controversy to follow" is one of those phrases that just have to make you chortle - or at least smirk!

As followers of Christ, however, things like this should not surprise us. Consider these words from the Apostle Paul as he wrote words of encouragement to his protoge Timothy ... from THE MESSAGE translation ... "You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant."

Our job - is not necessarily to feed the "Controversy to follow" routine ... but instead to remain firm and faithful to the SOLID TRUTH of the Word of God.

Dave Lost His Check

Last evening was quite an eventful one. As services dismissed, Dave, Dustin and I met for a little while - our only chance to have a staff meeting all weekend. When that was concluded, Dave realized that he had misplaced his check. What followed was a 15-minute period of franticness! We seached HIGH. We searched low. We searched places we didn't even know we had. Dave retraced his steps throughout the weekend, seeking help from anyone he could. Frustration was about to give birth to acceptance of loss when Dustin, taking one last search of his van, discovered the wayward renumeration under some other packings -- and oh, the joy that ensued!!

In the last few weeks, I've thought a lot about those who don't know Jesus as their Savior. I'm wondering, if there will ever come a time when they will realize something is missing and if they do, will they search HIGH and search low and search everywhere they can possibly imagine. And if they are just about to give up - will there be someone who can offer them hope by saying "I've got what you're looking for."

Lost in thought,
Pastor Todd

Technical Difficulties

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