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I have enjoyed the experience of preaching at Canyon Creek. I know I have been out of the pulpit for almost two months. It is exciting to seek the Lord to see what he might have to say to a group of believers who gather each week to worship together.
Each one has a word they bring embedded in their hearts. This word is often shared in meetings of two as they share the stories of their lives quietly in a corner or in a pew. Sometimes this word is shared within a group of a few who center around God’s word together. Sometimes this word embedded in the heart remains upspoken as it is for only the one to whom God has granted it.
As I think about the Christmas season, I look forward to the new experience of helping my church honor God by celebrating and rejoicing over the coming of the Jewish Messiah who is the Savior for all the earth.
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:2
Please join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30 and come ready to rejoice for what God has done and is doing in our lives.
What a Great Chili Community
I had a great time at the chili cook-off yesterday. How great it was to see so many smiling faces, revealing those orange teeth from a recently swallowed glob of unique chilies. I enjoy being stationed between the Buckner’s and hearing the interaction between that loving family. I was proud to see my own two boys eagerly serving their exquisite creation. Looking around the room at the competition, I thought to myself how creative are the people of Canyon Creek!
The chili cook-off does more than raise money for the students (I believe nearly $700 was raised btw). I creates that wonderful sense of community among those who attend. If you were unable to come this year, you missed out on something that is special. I hope that in the coming future, not to be redundant, you will consider attending similar events. It has been stated that people are concerned about the reality of two different churches within these walls. It is events like the chili cook-off that help bridge that existing gap.
I want to say thanks to Trey and the youth for hosting this event. I know that as you serve us, the church is also serving you. I also know that money was not the only thing raised yesterday. Yesterday, a sense of community was raised. And we can all use more of that.
SUNDAY NIGHT ENGAGE
The attendance trend for Sunday evenings at Canyon Creek has shifted downward over the past several years and has gained a larger momentum over the last 18 months. Despite the temptation to change Sunday evenings to something that would simply increase attendance, the better approach is to provide a ministry that gives opportunity for people to glorify God by being a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. This approach reaches far beyond the needs of adults only and includes all, from preschoolers to senior adults. The purpose of Sunday Night Engage is to help believers mature in their faith, encouraging them to takes steps in their faith, to grow into their ministries, and to become disciples who make disciples. Canyon Creek will see several benefits from this new approach to Sunday evenings. 1. This change in schedule and ministry allows CCBC to fulfill its mission statement of being a church that glorifies God by helping its members be and make disciples. 2. This change in schedule maintains a tie to what is known as the current Sunday evening worship while shaping the evening for focused discipleship needs. 3. This change in schedule enhances the visitor friendly atmosphere by providing appropriate age-based discipleship and open worship and bible study at the same time. 4. Because discipleship needs are most often unrelated to age, the schedule provides opportunity for a variety of ages to participate in a small group setting, helping bridge the gap between generations. With the church’s goal to reach 100 families by the end of 2010, Sunday Night Engage will prove to be a vital ministry in making it happen. It is the staff’s hope and prayer that Engage will become not simply a way for people to put new notches on their belts which represent completed bible studies, but that it will also become an avenue for outreach or onramps for new people to become involved in the life of the church.
Who Would Have Thought It Was Possible
From the very beginning, nobody gave this bunch much of a chance to succeed. After all, it had been quite a while since they had any success whatsoever. As a matter of fact, some might say that the only success they had was simply in being created. They hadn’t been around for very long, especially compared to most of the other groups that do what they do. This particular group has a few veterans helping guide the way and a stable of youngsters who have dreamed of this for a long time. Their accomplishment to this date is amazing and yet they still have a long way to go to be “on the top.”
Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for an amazing baseball season. Last year they were in last place in their division. No body gave them a chance to win anything at all, much less an American League Pennant. Yet, with the careful guidance of their manager, and with the tender care by the trainer of many of their young hitters and pitchers, the Rays now see themselves with a chance to win won of sports most heralded championships, the World Series. Just as the Texas Rangers how difficult it is to make it all the way.
Maybe our church is a bit like this. Could this small bunch of believers do something that no one has thought possible? Yes we can. Yes we can, if we place ourselves in the hands of God. Yes we can, if we commit together. Yes we can, if we be sure to take care of one another along the way. Yes we can, if we keep our eyes looking forward and upward.
Who thinks it’s possible?
PICTURES OF A MOTHER
One mom sleeps quietly away, engulfed in clouds with dreams of her child growing up and growing strong. Her husband is on the other side of the house, cuddling their three month old who’s cough has lasted for almost a week. He’s tired and hungry just like the baby, but he knows that his wife will have a long day once she awakes a couple hours later. Love abounds in the home between the parents and the children. Life is hectic.
One mom dresses her newborn in the prettiest outfit she has. She herself is dressed in that one dress that he loves most. He comes around the corner. “It’s time.” He looked so handsome in his uniform. On the way, not much is spoken. They didn’t have to. The ceremony was beautiful. The hugs lasted a lifetime. The tears could have filled the ocean. Once he is out of sight, she holds her little girl. She whispers, “It’s okay. He’ll be back. . . He will.” Life if fragile.
One mom sits at the kitchen table in her one-bedroom apartment. It’s past midnight and she wonders where her seventh grader is. Will he walk through the door soon? Is he at a friend’s place? Is he walking the streets? Will the phone ring again with “the law” on the other end? She wonders how it all happened. Just a year ago she had a perfect marriage, a perfect family. His death was so sudden; they had been unprepared. Everything is falling apart. Life is fleeting.
One mom sits behind the wheel with three younglings in the back. The rain on the windshield makes it hard to see in the moonlit night, let alone the tears that flow, dripping from her cheeks. Piercing the darkness comes a small voice, “Mommy, where are we going?” She had been asking herself that same question, yet answers were elusive. The one thing she did know was that she couldn’t go back. She wouldn’t. Never! But, where to now? Life is scary.
Four moms. They live in different worlds though they breathe the same air, travel the same roads. They hurt. They struggle.
Four moms enter through the doors. They sit in different places though they hug the same people, sing the same songs, hear the same message. They dream. They hope. Their faith carries them through, clinging to his promise, “never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Life is hectic, but at peace. Life is fragile, but so precious. Life is fleeting, but full. Life is scary, but endurable. The message brings hope. The songs provide faith. The hugs supply love.
I Like What I See
It has been exciting to see how many of the adult Sunday School classes have embraced the vision that Josh Hunt shared with us about growing and dividing. Josh reminded us that church is not about us. It never has been and it never will be. In fact, if church is about us, then it has ceased to be church. One may call it whatever he or she wants, but it would be in error to call it church. Church is about God. Church was established by God. Church is for His honor, His glory, His majesty. Church is for reaching His world, His children. Again, many of our classes are getting it now.
Of course, most of the people in our church would probably agree to the statements above or to something very similar to them. If someone, however, is not driven to action because of his belief, then the belief comes into question. A belief – derived from Scripture, inspired by God, heard by the person, understood in the heart – is not a belief unless it is expressed through faith in action.
By October 7, the adult Sunday School division will be on track to create four new classes. These classes are or will be healthy, enjoyable, meaningful, vibrant, spiritual, social groups that intend on growing and dividing. The people in these classes look forward to meeting new people, having incredible relationships with people they’ve not yet met. In doing so, these classes will have been obedient to God’s desire in bringing His world into the fold of His people.
Each of the other three divisions, preschool, children, and youth, are also looking to expand by adding at least one class each. There are two hurdles to making this happen – space and workers. Pray that God will unfold His ideal and His ideas to those in leadership and those who should be in leadership.
In addition to all of this, God has also seen fit to entrust to our care for brief periods of time on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening special needs adults from three area group homes. What a gift from God! The work in this area may be difficult, but it is certainly rewarding for those involved with this ministry. It seems that with this ministry, the parable of the talents holds true. Should one remain faithful with a little, God will grant much more.
Let’s pray together for God’s desire to be our desire. May they become so one together that we no longer realize the difference between His and ours.
God Bless, Jason