Vol. 3 Issue 9 :: March 5, 2010

"I think my walk with Christ took a step in a more radical direction when I began to live actively in a church community.  When the local church really became a family I was committed to, nominalism simply ceased to be a viable option.  You can’t walk together with other saints, commit yourself to the cross-carrying “one anothers” of Scripture, and remain a lukewarm disciple."  ~  Thabiti Anyabwile

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In this issue…

• The Hodsons Had a Baby!!
• Sunday Preview
• Preview the New Passion CD
• I Love You . . . No Matter What
• A Really Large Rube Goldberg Machine

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The Hodsons Had a Baby!!

Nathaniel Ray Hodson entered the world at 8:33 AM on Monday, 3/1/10.  His stats were 7lbs 14oz and 19.25".  Would you like to help the Hodson family out?  Sign up on the Care Calendar to take them a meal.  Use the information below:

CALENDAR ID      :  34247C
SECURITY CODE :   9629

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Sunday Preview

• Builders ABF - Mikel is continuing through the series on idolatry.  Check out the Builders Blog for more information.
• Corporate Worship - Pastor Whipple will be preaching on Phil. 4:8-9, admonishing us to change our mind. 
• Family Gathering - we will be starting at 5:00 PM, and we'll be singing, doing some business, listening to some testimonies, and gathering around the Lord's Table.
• Chili Cook-off - Right after the Family Gathering, we'll be celebrating chili in the ministry center.  Come ready to eat!

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Preview the New Passion CD

If you're a fan of the Passion CDs, then you might enjoy getting a sneak peak of the newest one coming out within a week:

"The yearly Christian conference and concert Passion featured the likes of Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, David Crowder Band, Christy Nockels, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, FEE and Hillsong United this year.

An album of 12 of these performances will be released on March 9, entitled Awakening.  Listen to the complete album a week before its release, exclusively on Yahoo! Music.

Listen here.

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I Love You . . . No Matter What

I ran across this article on Zach Nielsen's blog, who found it from Ryan Kelly's blog, who found it on the Gospel Coalition blog, who posted it from Greg Lucas' blog.  Greg writes about life with a disabled son, and I highly agree with Ryan Kelly's reaction to his writing:

Like a lot of pastors these days, I read a number of blogs. I often find a post here or there to be helpful and/or encouraging, but I don’t think any have so quickly and powerfully caused me to weep as one did today. The Gospel Coalition blog linked to a blog by Greg Lucas in which he shares his reflections on the difficulty of fathering a special needs child.

I thank God for this brother’s suffering, his perseverance, and for him sharing that process with others. It lead me to fresh repentance; it led me fresh faith in the undying love of our Father. Here’s a sample:

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Almost daily I have to physically restrain my son. It is a physical battle to change his diaper and clean his body. Many times while cleaning and changing him I have been kicked in the face, bitten, smacked, clawed, or hit with flying objects. It is not all that uncommon to come away from a cleanup with a bloody lip or a new scratch…

I must confess that on many mornings I leave Jake’s room dejected, hurt and emotionally drained. And many nights I find myself restraining the violent resistance of a struggling boy by wrapping him in my arms against his will and gently whispering, “I love you. I love you. I love you . . . no matter what.”

Most children are relational and have the ability to reciprocate affection. But what happens when the child cannot communicate love? … The only possible way to make any sense of this kind of relationship is to experience it through the truly unconditional love of God the Father. As I reflect on my seemingly one sided relationship with my son, I am forced to see how it is sometimes a portrait of my own relationship with God.

In the defiance of my son to be loved, cared for and washed clean, I am shown a portrait of the cross. The one-sided violence of love reveals a blurred vision of my own redemption, as a bloody, beaten, crucified Savior wraps me in His arms, subdues me with His affection and whispers in my ear, “I love you. I love you. I love you . . . no matter what.”

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Other posts are equally as moving and gospel-focused. Read and weep.

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A Really Large Rube Goldberg Machine

I'm not really sure what this song is about…in fact, you could probably mute the sound and still be immensely satisfied by this video.  All of you who have ever been fascinated by Mousetrap - not so much the game part, but setting up the contraption - will enjoy this video.  Everyone else, not so much. 

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass