Baby Steven...

This past Sunday Morning I had the privilege of doing a very special baby dedication. Baby Steven is a 9 month old boy from from Haiti and has been staying with a very loving family in our church for the past 5 months. Steven had spinabfida and the Worrells took him in through mending kids. The sacrifice that the Worrells made gave Steven allowed for Steven to be operated on in the states.

On Sunday Kingsfield prayed for him as he will be going back to Hattie this week. The prayer is that Steven will be able to be brought back to the U.S. through an adoption agency early this next year.

I really respect the Worrells for opening up their lives to this child. Their selfless investment has radically impacted not only Steven life but their own as well.

I love watching what how God works when were willing to step outside our comfort zone.

I've got a short video that J&S Productions (Jono and Simono) put toether... so check back later and I'll get it uploaded for you.

So it's been on my mind

On the way home from a benefit dinner for Growers First we drove past main beach in Laguna Beach. At a stop light several students were making tons of noise on the corner and crossing the street with their signs, supporting their cause. Their efforts were in protest to California's yes vote on Proposition 8. Proposition 8 reversed the supreme court ruling to allow same sex marriages, and will now place a biblical definition of marriage in the California Constitution. It will be stated as “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California”

Several things hit me as I watched these students rallying together... I'll share one for now and maybe share some later.

One was the desperate need every generation has for a true cause. My heart really went out to them. So many are searching for something to stand for. They long for something bigger than themselves to unite them and give them purpose. I wonder if those students were really motivated by cause itself, or by the fulfillment that having "a cause" brings.

I wonder what would happen if the church was to embrace it's cause with the same "force" that these students have embraced theirs. Not that we would hold protests and picket parties, rather that we unite with a boldness in the proclamation of the Gospel.

It's my prayer that the church, with wisdom, would be careful not to "tear down bridges" with unchristlike behavior. Also that we would not simply "build bridges" for the sake of "unconditional love". Rather that we would keep the bridges we do have, build the bridges we don't have and then drive the truth of the gospel across. That we would care enough to boldly call sin, sin. Then we would boldly point sinners to the sinners savior, Jesus Christ.

That is Gods cause and it must be ours as well... Jesus said of Himself in Luk 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Paul wrote in 1Ti 1:15 "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst." The sin factor goes for every one of us. Rom 3:23 tells us "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". But thanks the Lord that there is hope for even the worst of sinners. Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord".

so we want change?

The votes are in and Barack Obama is our President elect. As he moves into his new role we need to be reminded of our role. Gods word tells us that our role is to pray for our leadership. Pray that God would grant him the wisdom to make the tough decisions that are before him. No mater what takes place, we know that God sits upon His throne and it's He who's ultimately in control.

America wants change and it's my prayer that we see it. Although America may be looking for it in the political and economic arena, the big change we need is elsewhere. What we need is a change of heart. Even if policy and procedure could usher in a strong economy it could never user in true peace. We would still be a restless people.

We were each created to thrive within a relationship with God. Outside that relationship we will never thrive or find rest. Jesus alone is the only one who could promise to provide for us the rest we are craving. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. "

It's my pray that America would find what she is really crying out for. It's my prayer also that the church would be bold enough to proclaim the gospel and point the way.

The Resurrection

Sunday we had many people show up to our service for the first time. Many of them had come out to Blast and decided to check things out. We were in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 examining the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of life beyond the grave. Paul describes the Integrity, the Implications and the hits us with the Issue. The main issue is not that the resurrection is hard to intellectualize. The issue is that the resurrection forces man to deal with God, who calls all men to surrender. Surrender is difficult for us because we like to be in control. Even if we don't trust ourselves, we often would rather trust ourselves more than trust God. When men realize that God is good and cares His people, surrender becomes easier but still not easy.

On Sunday there was a huge response and we say many first time commitments to the Lord.

Thank you Lord

BLAST was a Blast

On Thursday the staff and some amazing volunteers began to set up for BLAST 08. The goal was set high but the team has always been the make it happen people. Besides the thousand other things that were happening, the stage was built, the map was finalized, and Jonathan was still going strong on the "Amazing Maze". He and his team had been working on it literally all week... For those of you who don't know the "amazing maze" was probably the largest cardboard box maze ever constructed. Jonathan and his team take the chairs out of the sanctuary and fill it with a crawl through maze that has all sorts of options to get lost, not to mention several layers, and slides, ect... Last but not least, what seemed to be a crazy idea from Carrie turned into actuality as Chris Reinhardt and team strung lights between our facility and the building next door at some 40+ feet in the air.

On Friday the maps were passed out early in the morning and the teams went to work turning our back parking lot into a county fair. Complete with everything from cotton candy to pony rides. The front got a little love as well and ended up having some major curb appeal. Complete with a huge projection of a video loop BLAST LOGO in space..

As 6:30 approached people began showing up and packed the place out. Music from the blues band filled the air as the smell of popcorn and BBQ completed the already very cool atmosphere. The kids ran from booth to booth and loaded up on Candy as parents tried to divide their attention between their many conversations and not losing their children. The kids seemed to have so much fun. The Amazing maze was a highlight for the older kids as they moved through endless tunnels with their glow sticks... some kids were stuck in the maze for over 30 minutes.

We had more people show up this year then ever before with well over 1000 participating over the course of the evening. I personally met many families from all over Orange County that were experiencing their first introduction to Kingsfield Church. It's my prayer that many of those who came out would join us on Sunday and find out a little more of what were all about.

God is truly doing some great things and were having tons of fun