The Most Important Sermon

Tuesday morning I'll be teaching at our church's youth camp. 80 kids. As I've been thinking and praying, I'm realizing that this could be the most important teaching I've ever done. Why? Because if we fail to reach the next generation, we fail. The book of Judges references the fact that a whole generation grew up without the relationship to God that their parents had. I can't wait to see what the Lord will do next week through all of the different people teaching. What a tremendous opportunity we have to pour into young people the wonderful grace of God and relationship with Jesus. Please keep me in prayer. It's looking like Janet and the kids will be driving up with me. That'll be fun.
Towards the end of the week, Sandy Adams, pastor of Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain, GA, will be teaching. He is, in my opinion, one of the finest bible teachers in the country. He'll be speaking at CC Kendall this coming Wednesday night. I'll be there.

Witnessing In Egypt

I have a friend who's in Egypt for a few weeks. We've been talking about evangelism and Middle Eastern culture. Here's a recent email he sent me. It gives a great perspective on the Middle Eastern people.

I think another problem is that people here see Christianity synonymous with America and George Bush, and they don't really like America and the hate George Bush. One Egyptian in my hotel was absolutely stunned when I told him that Jesus was a Palestinian, his jaw dropped, I said, yeah, didn't you know, He was born in Bethlehem, Palestine, 2000 years ago. He kind of looked down and nodded in agreement. I like shocking them with different things like that. I was asked if I pray at church and I said that yes I do but I'm always in prayer, that turned into an interesting conversation. Or when I tell them that God speaks to my heart, the same way He did to Abraham, or that I love God and I cannot wait to be with Him. To them God is to be feared, so things like that always intrigue them. Yesterday they opened a bottle of wine, even though they're not supposed to drink, when they asked me if I wanted some they were very suprised to hear a no, they asked me if it was haram (forbidden), I told them that nothing is forbidden for me but that I choose not to, for the most part, they get quite intrigued.

You can check out his blog at www.pedrocarrion.com.

Genesis, Moving, and Sergio's

She turned three last Saturday. At her checkup today, the doctor heard arhythmias in her heart. So she's off to the cardiologist soon - we know a good one!

We are loving life in our house.

Thanks for all those who have loaned us tools, helped us in so many ways. We used a moving company to help us move. I can't describe how good my back felt watching other people lift our furniture. These guys did a great job. They had good attitudes. The head guy asked me what I did for a living. He was very enthusiastic when he found out I was a pastor. At the end of the day, he reminded me that I promised him a business card. So I gave all of them one of my cards which has the directions to the church on the back. Hopefully, they'll come visit and get saved and discipled.

The other night we went out to eat at Sergio's. As Genesis was playing with her new toy purse and purse-things, she would often drop something on the floor. After a while the people sitting close to us said, "Hey, don't you go to Calvary Chapel Kendall?" I love public accountability. It reminded me that as Christians, we are always on duty.

Independance Day

July 1 was Canada Day. So happy Canada Day to all our Canadian friends. For us it was also an early independance day, for it was move in day. Yes, we are back into our house.

I was laying in our (oh so comfortable) bed the other day looking at the new paint and molding and really noticing how nice everything looked. Just over a year ago the same house was not as pretty. It made me think. How have I changed during the last year? Do I "look better"? Or do I need a new coat of paint?

I once heard a pastor say, "Trials don't make you angry, they reveal the anger that's already in your heart. They don't make you bitter, they reveal the bitterness that's already there."

I heard this from another ministry leader - Q: When you squeeze a lemon what do you get? A: Whatever's inside.

That's like us. When we go through trials and we don't respond in a godly way it is a sign to us that there is something in our lives that we need to deal with; we need to take it to the Lord in prayer. I can't do it, God. I need you.

Living in our house again has been great. Freedom. Peace. Quiet. There's still alot to do. But may we not ever forget what the Lord wants to do within us.