You Can Make A Difference Right Now

The Youth Group had wonderful summer conferences. The Middle School Students went to Jackson, Mississippi while the Senior High went to BigStuf in Panama City, Florida.

In Panama City, there was no oil to be seen, only white beaches and emerald green water. 1500 youth from all across the southeast enjoyed incredible speakers, humor, and awesome music throughout. During the event, the youth heard presentations about the need to help our brothers and sisters in Africa with education and clean water. Did you know that every 20 seconds a child dies from lack of clean water? Every 20 seconds! (and yes, the picture to the right is the filthy water that child is getting ready to drink!)

Children and youth suffer from malnutrition and kids are turned away from school in some cases because the family cannot pay the tuition. If they get to school, they usually have overcrowded conditions and very few school books for the large amount of students. Going to school in the U.S. is often considered monotonous or drudgery, in Africa it is
a priviledge and dream to be able to attend classes and get an education.
Out of the Senior High experience, I was introduced to a group called the 410 Bridge. (www.410Bridge.org) The group, founded by Pastor Lanny Donohoe,

realized that the plight of the poor is overwhelming, so they decided to pinpoint a particular place to make a grand impact. That place is Daraja, Kenya. There, because of giving people like you, kids are being fed, wells are being dug, education is taking place (and we know how much Lutherans and Presbyterians love education) and buildings are being constructed. All this is to begin to stem the tide of extreme poverty in this African village.

You can give to this project in either of two ways. You can pick up your cell phone and dial "50555" and text the word "think". You will recieve a reply asking if you want to add $5 to your phone bill and it will go to directly to the 410 Bridge African project.

Finally, a second opportunity to reach out to our global neighbors is available.
World Vision is sponsoring a concert in Beaumont on October 8th at the Ford Arena. A limited number of tickets are available. This concert features Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Toby Mac, and Max Lucado speaking. All proceeds go to World Vision hunger programs. You can see more at www.makeadifferencetour.com

You have been blessed. We, the people of the United States, have been blessed. Today, I am asking you to give a little bit to this cause on a regular basis. If you want to know where a person's heart is, check their calendar and their bank statement. This is a direct way to give to a charities that will use every possible dime to serve people in need. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

Old Dogs That Bite

I have four kids and I love to watch them play their sports. On a recent Friday night, I attended my son’s baseball game. The umpire in charge seemed to be very prickly. In fact, fans were warned to be on good behavior because he was known for tossing people out. The game was going along smoothly and the score was in our favor, then suddenly it happened.
It seemed like a bad dream. Saturday morning I woke up and it was still a reality. During the bottom of the fourth inning the other team changed pitchers. There was a break. One of the kids had asked about using the bathroom which was locked. A parent found a maintenance man and asked about the situation only to be told that a port-a-john would need to be used. The parent walked over to the dugout and told a player to tell the others about the bathroom situation. Suddenly... from behind home plate the umpire yells that the player who was speaking to the parent was ejected. It happened to be my son.
Wow. Are you kidding? Really? He wasn't even out of the dugout. Okay, so now he is out of this game... because he was listening to a good Samaritan's information. It has rolled in my brain since then. Less than 24 hours later, this is what I think.
Umpires and referees, especially since instant replay, have been under pressure to make the right calls. You may remember the perfect game pitched by Detroit's Armando Gallaraga, not because the record books show a perfect game, but because the first base umpire blew the call on the last batter of the game and broke up the perfect game and no-hitter. Gallaraga showed ultimate class in the situation. He took the high road.
I write this today, not to degrade the umpire, but to say that I feel sorry for the umpire at my son’s game. From my childhood, I remember a neighbor who abused his dog. The dog was fenced and when anyone got close to it, it growled, barked, and snapped. Eventually it bit a kid and had to be put down. Sadly, the dog had been treated so poorly, it didn't know anything but defense mechanisms. The umpire behind home plate strikes me the same way. According to sources, he has been a good umpire over the years.
This event made me think about how it must have been for Jewish people who lived in Jesus' day. Living in strict accordance to the Law was the rule. Every move you made was watched carefully and scrutinized. Life like that would have been oppressive. Eventually you might find yourself not wanting to be around people at all. The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind. Jewish men refuse to help a beaten man on the side of the road because they were afraid to "get their hands dirty." Jesus commended the Samaritan and praised his actions for being more concerned for people than the letter of the Law. The letter of the law stood and there was no grace. In everyday life, that still seems to happen. In this case, an extremely minor rule was broken, and the kid got punished to the extreme. I find it appalling that a kid was hurt in the process. He not only was kicked out of that game, but the next tournament game too.
This may sound odd, but if that event was going to happen to someone, I am glad it was to my son. I am not going to say that I wasn't angry, I was. But, I didn't say anything I would regret and I am not looking to get even. In fact, I have forgiven the umpire. But in the process, I believe it will build my son’s character and mine. Life is not always fair. The next time I see that umpire, I will look at him differently because I believe God gave me the remembrance of the abused dog I knew years ago as a symbol of a man who has probably put up with a lot over the years and is just unaware of what he has become. Thank God the Good News of Jesus Christ is about grace and not about keeping the letter of the Law - or we would all be thrown out of God's game! Until next time, Blessings!

Parker’s Impact

Today I want to share with you an obituary. Not your normal run-of-the-mill obituary, but one of a young man who was killed in an auto crash a few years ago.

“Parker Davis Jackson (August 2, 1990 - November 7, 2006 ) is one of the few people who pass through this world and leave a legacy with such power. On the surface everyone knew him as a "great kid" but for those who knew his heart they knew him as so much more. In our family, Parker was the spark. He was the energy, passion, and life. His quick sense of humor, absolutely incredible smile and genuine heart made our family who we are. To his friends and their families, Parker was the "other son". No matter what environment, Parker had something to offer. We would love to think that we taught Parker something, but in reality he was the one teaching us. We learned how to be passionate about what we enjoy. He was passionate about the Lord, family, friends, sports, and school. His energy and enthusiasm were qualities we so cherished in him. With this incredible energy came an incredible desire to project integrity and character. Parker always sought to improve himself. He loved doing whatever was true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable and whatever is excellent in the eyes of the Lord (Philippians 4:8). Parker commanded respect and admiration from any and all who knew him. As a natural leader, he was able to influence and inspire all who would let him. We know Parker will be remembered on the sports field, in the classroom, and in the homes of so many who loved him, but what he wanted to be remembered more than anything was as a lover of Christ. He wanted his life to be a way for God to reach those who did not know the Savior of the World. It is an honor that Parker is able to share the gospel in such a genuine and real way. We pray that his goal of God reaching others through him, will be a goal he will most certainly achieve. As a family we always joked that Parker could make a game and competition out of everything, and that he always won. Well now Parker has truly won. He has won the opportunity to celebrate passionately the God he loved and the Lord who is his Savior. We know he would only want us to do the same. So in Parker's honor we praise God.”

This obituary was lovingly written by Emily, his sister, Ben his brother, and parents Lauren and Bo Jackson (not the famous one!). Since Parker’s death, it has been difficult at times for this family to breathe. I did not know Parker, but I know people who did. They were touched deeply by his life… and his death. Pastor Andy Stanley of the Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta went to the family home on the evening of Parker’s death. He realized that Parker wasn’t just another kid; he was literally a partner in ministry. As a sixteen year old, Parker mentored fourth grade boys in a Sunday school class. The family developed the Legacy Lacrosse Cup, which includes some spirited games and a dinner for all the participants. After the players eat, they are asked to digest a few inspiring talks. The night ends with Parker’s dad challenging them to live a legacy, handing out cards to help them chart a meaningful life the way Parker had done. "From what I know and what I've been told, the grieving never ends, it just changes in many ways," said his dad. “This isn't supposed to happen. Your children aren't supposed to die before you do. It doesn't go away. But I do think it could be crippling if you hang on to your grief as an anchor that you drag with you forever."

The Jacksons are trying to look at life as a glass half full, not half empty. There is so much meaning to what they do, including the inscription on Parker's tombstone. It reads: "Had a blast. Wish I could have stayed longer." Parker is still impacting lives today as you have read this article. May you be so blessed that your life have similar impact as well!

Help in Times of Helplessness

A pastor I know is an avid cyclist. He loves riding. He has the specialized bicycle and all the equipment to go along with it. One day he was out riding when suddenly a wasp flew into his open mouth. In horror, he was stung numerous times inside his mouth and before he realized it, he swallowed the bug. Suddenly he imagined how it would all end. The wasp would sting his esophagus and it would swell and he would die. He felt helpless! Have you ever felt helpless? Has there been a time when you had little or no control over the circumstances and events taking place in your life? Most everyone can name at least once when that has happened to them and I bet you can too if you think about it. Maybe you were waiting for the results of a medical test for a loved one or even yourself. Maybe your well being was in the hands of another person… the surgeon, the dentist, a financial advisor, a mechanic, or even just your boss. It really stinks to feel helpless.
The Book of Genesis tells a wonderful story of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham has been promised by God that he would have a son who would be the father of many nations. But, due to their age, they begin to believe that God will never come through for them. So, they opt for an alternative. Abraham has a child (Ishmael) by another woman, Hagar. Then suddenly God appears to Abraham and tells him that Sarah will have a child and name him Isaac. Abraham is stunned! Could this be true? God is now going to act after all this time? Yes, God acts to bring a child (Isaac) forth from two aged people. God fulfills the promise to Abraham.
The beauty of this story is this. We, like Abraham, often lose our patience with God. We find ourselves even laughing at the thought that God can or will act for our best interest. We struggle with the faith in God to believe that God is good and no matter the circumstance will be there. We would much rather point to times when we felt that God was distant or absent. We would use our timetable instead of God’s when it comes to giving us what we want. When we expect God to act in our time, that is not faith; that is called the drive thru at McDonald’s. God acts in God’s time. We struggle to understand that fact, but often in retrospect we see how things worked in God’s time and not ours. But the catalyst is this, God’s strength is best seen when we are helpless. That is the heart of Christian faith. When our power is gone, God’s power takes over. Throughout scripture, God chooses to act in a time when people have to rely solely upon God. That doesn’t mean we can sit around and do nothing, it means that we should realize that our plans and power are meager in comparison to God’s. When in our prayers we seek God’s guidance, we are to believe God will come through.
But here is the greatest part. God even comes through in the midst of our mess. When we have failed, God picks up the pieces. That has been and will be God’s most triumphant moments. Cleaning up our mess and showing the world that He is God. So, in all things seek God and in all those things God can be trusted.

Check out the BIG Stuf Camp Promo...

click here to see the video!

DRIVE 10 Highlights- At Providence, we want to know what is working to reach people.

BE SURE TO TURN OFF THE MUSIC PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
AND ENJOY THE VIDEOS FROM THE DRIVE CONFERENCE

DRIVE 2010 Highlight from North Point Media on Vimeo.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

God Loves Our Skinned Knees

Easter has come and gone once again this year. Jesus has gone to the cross, suffered, died, and has been resurrected. But what happened after that?
I love the story told in the 21st chapter of the gospel of John. The disciples go out fishing and as the sun rises they see a man on the beach. The man is Jesus. He tells them to let down their nets and they will catch fish. The follow instructions and catch 153 fish. Jesus tells them to come ashore because He has breakfast for them. When Peter sees Jesus he puts on his clothes and jumps into the water to go to shore. When Peter gets to shore, Jesus calls Peter over and sits him down.
At this point, Jesus could have easily scolded or belittled Peter for his previous actions. Peter had been a zealous follower in so many instances, but when Jesus is arrested and taken away to be beaten and eventually hung on the cross, Peter denied being one of Jesus’ followers at least three times.
So, here is Jesus, back from the dead, having a sit down with Peter. What would you say to someone you loved who had abandoned you in your time of need? What would you want to say to someone who denied even being your friend? Wouldn’t you be hurt… angry… mad… even possibly want some revenge? In our world today we often see people who have been forsaken and we identify with them. Recent headlines are an indication of that. I was in the doctors’ office the other day and a woman was reading People magazine. She said aloud, “Poor Sandra Bullock, she finally gets an Oscar and she can’t enjoy it because of her cheatin’ husband.” Didn’t you feel bad for Elin Woods or Jenny Sanford or Elizabeth Edwards who has cancer? All abandoned by their husbands for other women. America’s news and entertainment channels have had a ball with all that stuff and we are watching it (at least a little!). Who could have blamed Jesus if He had wanted to verbally whip-up on Peter? And, why stop there? Jesus could have looked at all the disciples and told them all how wrong they were and how little faith they had and, oh my, how He could have blinded a couple and maimed a few and cursed some. But He DID NOT!
Instead, Jesus simply loved them. Even though they had not done what was right or faithful or even died with Him. Jesus simply went to them and forgave them and served them. He cooked them breakfast on the beach and asked Peter, “Do you love me?”
The English version does not help us understand the question, but the Greek does. Jesus asks Peter if he agapes Jesus. Agape is a word that means a self sacrificial love. Willing to serve or even die for another kind of love. Peter responds with a truthful heart by saying, “I philios you.” Peter loves Jesus like a brother and he is not willing to die for Him.
We can believe Peter to be a failure, but we can also identify with Peter as well. Peter did abandon Jesus, but over time, Peter came back to Jesus. Peter wasn’t quite ready to give his life… yet. But in time, as he followed Jesus, Peter’s love grew into an agape love. So much so, that he died for the message of Jesus.
In life we try to follow Jesus, but most of time we find ourselves failing in one way or another. Like a child who skins his or her knees over and over as they learn to walk. God loves skinned knees on us all; because it shows that we are willing to try to follow… try to walk the walk not just talk the talk. God even gave us scabs to heal the wounds on our knees just as He has given us grace for all the times we fall. God loves you and I pray, no matter how old you become, you will be His child with skinned knees.

A Lesson on the Cross of Jesus

I recently read about a man who said he didn’t believe in Christianity because he couldn’t understand why a nice guy like Jesus had to die and there was no way that one man, even Jesus, could do such a thing as take away the sins of other people, much less the entire world. Having heard this, I want to talk with you about why Jesus suffered and died.
There are three words I believe we must consider when we attempt to understand the cross and the meaning of Jesus being crucified.
The first part of answering such a question forces us to look closely at the Trinity. The Trinity, a word not actually found in scripture, is a term and concept used by the historical church to describe God as one God, three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is vital, and I mean “super” important, to know that God, the Creator of all, was from the beginning of time never alone. God is a being that is made up of three persons who are inseparable. It is also key to know that Jesus was always with God, even when the world was created as scripture clearly teaches in John 1. In other words, Jesus is not made in the image of human beings, we are made in His!
The second aspect of understanding Jesus’ suffering is found in the term ascension. As theologian Baxter Kruger states, “There is no more stunning news in the universe than the news that a human being now exists inside the Trinitarian life of God.” Jesus, fully God and fully human (after Jesus’ life on earth), went to heaven and exists with God. Jesus’ humanity is with God each and every day.
Was this some kind of accident on God’s part? Was this some kind of planning on the fly by God? No! Jesus was the secret plan of the Trinity from all of eternity. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ was planned from the beginning of time. God is, in a way, human like us.
The third and final aspect is to understand sin. Sin is missing the mark when it comes to following God. It is not so much about rules, but about the entire quagmire of our brokenness, alienation, and estrangement that exists between God, us, and each other. Sin is something that humanity brought on itself, not imposed by God. On the cross our brokenness and alienation is overcome. Thus, to understand Jesus’ suffering, we must know that God is, at the core of God’s being, about relationships. God’s love for us is so strong that God knew sin would be a barrier that would have to be overcome. Out of amazing love, Jesus came to us to offer Himself as the solution to the problem of sin.
Thus, it is not Jesus who dies to appease the Father; it is the death of Jesus that proves just how much the triune God loves us. Contrary to the whispers of Satan, God does love us and we are worthy of that love, no matter who we are or what we’ve done. We even find ourselves taking sides with Satan, just like the crowds who shouted “crucify.” Yes, we too get fooled by Satan to believe lies. But Jesus says to us again and again, “forgive them…” and “it is finished.” Is that shocking? It should be. It is not about our work, but our love for a God who first (and always) loved us. The empty tomb continues to prove that Satan cannot win this war for human lives. God wants us to be with Him and has chosen to bring us home… not ask us to find our own way. Now that you know how much God loves you, isn’t it easier to love God for such an awesome gift? If so, that’s called salvation and it’s free. Until next time, Blessings!

Great Article by Rick Reilly: "A Man Making a Bad Name for Himself"

I am not generally a spiteful man. I pat toddlers' haircuts, donate to the glee club and mostly greet the world with open arms. But when I think of coach Greg Wise of Houston's Yates High School, I become darker than Johnny Cash's closet. The things I would like to do to Coach Wise would curl an executioner's toes. For starters, I'd like to see him dipped in seal butter and dropped into a polar bear's cage.
Coach Wise is the hammerhead who believes it's his right to toast other basketball teams by 100 points. Sometimes more. He thumped Lee High School this season by 135 points, 170-35. Wise's team was up at the half, 100-12. And full-court pressed to the very end!
Wise is to sportsmanship what tsunamis are to beach chairs. So far this season, he's beaten teams by 135, 115, 99 (twice), 98, 90 and 88 points. Trying to get to 100 points in a crushing of Westbury, his players intentionally fouled to stop the clock. I'd like to clock him.
If Wise doesn't stop, somebody's going to get hurt. In a Feb. 20 home game, Wise refused to pull his foot off the accelerator in a 132-68 fricasseeing of Booker T. Washington. Nobody likes to be humiliated, and this includes fans. Like at some of Yates' games, there was fighting. This time it happened in the parking lot afterward. Shots were fired, though nobody was hurt. This time.
He's beaten teams by 135, 115 and 99 -- twice.
What's it going to take for Houston Independent School District officials to stop Wise? Or suspend him? What's it going to take before Yates principal Ronald Mumphery grows a pair and disciplines his coach? Somebody dying? "These are tough kids from a tough part of town," says Jacques Armant, coach at Lee, which also lost to Yates by 99. "Beatings like this can turn out to be real dangerous."
At the very least, USA Today ought to remove Yates from its national rankings -- the school is No. 1 -- as a statement about basic sports decency. That'd be the un-Wise thing to do. This is not war. This is not the pros. There's no bonus for belittling young men in front of their parents and girlfriends. These kids are getting their pants yanked down in front of the whole playground. They don't deserve it.
"A lot of my kids went into a kind of depression after [losing by 135]," says Armant. "They thought the game was over, but when you turn on your radio and every deejay is saying how you got beat for an all-time record, it hurts. I took one kid home, and he said, 'Coach, can you please turn the radio off? I can't take it anymore.'"
On second thought, I'd like Wise to spend a day as a speed bump in the Lee parking lot. I was unable to reach Wise or Principal Mumphery, but Wise has defended himself by saying he practices pressing and trapping, and that doing anything else during the game would be bad coaching. He's said that all 15 of his players -- 11 of them seniors -- play. "The [third string] deserves the chance to play hard and compete too," Wise has said.
Yes, those kids deserve to play hard and compete -- every day in scrimmages against the best team in Texas. In games against schools with no chance, they need to back off. Basketball isn't Greg Wise's personal vanity mirror. He needs to say, "We're going to work on passing. Anyone shoots and they're running stairs at the Astrodome."
But Wise won't say that because Wise is about Wise. He's after records. He wants teenage scalps. He tried to break the record for most 100-point games in a row (and failed). He did set the state record for points in one game (170).
And I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for the national record of 211. If he gets it, I hope they add an *:


*Set by Yates High School, Classless of 2010

Article that Chief Exorcist Claims... Sex abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church are proof that that "the Devil is at work inside the Vatican",

Interesting article from the London Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7056689.ece

March 11, 2010
Father Gabriele Amorth, 85, who has been the Vatican's chief exorcist for 25 years and says he has dealt with 70,000 cases of demonic possession, said that the consequences of satanic infiltration included power struggles at the Vatican as well as "cardinals who do not believe in Jesus, and bishops who are linked to the Demon".

He added: "When one speaks of 'the smoke of Satan' [a phrase coined by Pope Paul VI in 1972] in the holy rooms, it is all true – including these latest stories of violence and paedophilia."

He claimed that another example of satanic behaviour was the Vatican "cover-up" over the deaths in 1998 of Alois Estermann, the then commander of the Swiss Guard, his wife and Corporal Cedric Tornay, a Swiss Guard, who were all found shot dead. "They covered up everything immediately," he said. "Here one sees the rot".

A remarkably swift Vatican investigation concluded that Corporal Tornay had shot the commander and his wife and then turned his gun on himself after being passed over for a medal. However Tornay's relatives have challenged this. There have been unconfirmed reports of a homosexual background to the tragedy and the involvement of a fourth person who was never identfied.

Father Amorth, who has just published Memoirs of an Exorcist, a series of interviews with the Vatican journalist Marco Tosatti, said that the attempt on the life of Pope John Paul II in 1981 had been the work of the Devil, as had an incident last Christmas when a mentally disturbed woman threw herself at Pope Benedict XVI at the start of Midnight Mass, pulling him to the ground.

Father José Antonio Fortea Cucurull, a Rome-based exorcist, said that Father Amorth had "gone well beyond the evidence" in claiming that Satan had infiltrated the Vatican corridors.

"Cardinals might be better or worse, but all have upright intentions and seek the glory of God," he said. Some Vatican officials were more pious than others, "but from there to affirm that some cardinals are members of satanic sects is an unacceptable distance."

Father Amorth told La Repubblica that the devil was "pure spirit, invisible. But he manifests himself with blasphemies and afflictions in the person he possesses. He can remain hidden, or speak in different languages, transform himself or appear to be agreeable. At times he makes fun of me."

He said it sometimes took six or seven of his assistants to to hold down a possessed person. Those possessed often yelled and screamed and spat out nails or pieces of glass, which he kept in a bag. "Anything can come out of their mouths – finger-length pieces of iron, but also rose petals."

He said that hoped every diocese would eventually have a resident exorcist. Under Church Canon Law any priest can perform exorcisms, but in practice they are carried out by a chosen few trained in the rites.

Father Amorth was ordained in 1954 and became an official exorcist in 1986. In the past he has suggested that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were possessed by the Devil. He was among Vatican officials who warned that J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels made a "false distinction between black and white magic".

He approves, however, of the 1973 film The Exorcist, which although "exaggerated" offered a "substantially exact" picture of possession.

In 2001 he objected to the introduction of a new version of the exorcism rite, complaining that it dropped centuries-old prayers and was "a blunt sword" about which exorcists themselves had not been consulted. The Vatican said later that he and other exorcists could continue to use the old ritual. He is the president of honour of the Association of Exorcists.