Sometimes we need to see through the eyes of children!

 Here is pastor Ed telling a Bible Story at the kick-off for Vacation Bible School!

 Many young people are leading our children in worship for this year's Bible School!

The Sunday night picnic was attended by many, many young families who enjoyed some great food and friendship together!

Last evening I had the privilege of sitting with three of my grandchildren during the Family Worship Kick-off of this year's Vacation Bible School.  Most of my attention was focused upon the faces of my grandchildren as the program was presented.

It was awesome to watch my grandchildren respond to the worship, dancing, Bible story, picnic and a remote controlled blimp.  They began quite hestitant and then as the program progressed they loosened up and began to enjoy.  I watched their faces closely trying to perceive what was going on in their heads and hearts.

I left very encouraged that this year's Bible School is going to plant some serious seeds of truth and light into the heads and hearts of our children.  Please join me in praying for our staff, our volunteers and all of the children who will attend.

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The Church is People--Plain and Simple!

The church is people!   Plain and simple.  It's not a building, a service, a ministry or even a set of beliefs.  It's people.  I'm so grateful we have such good people as a part of our church family.   Here's a recent picture of most of our staff following a Monday morning staff meeting.  Three of our staff were in Africa and a couple were involved in other projects.  We have an inspired and committed staff who are called by God to lead our church family.  It's an honor to partner with them.

It's Sunday evening, June 3 and I'm thinking about all of the interactions I had with so many different people in our lobbies this morning.  Twelve hundred people at our Cedar Falls campus this morning and each of them have their own story, their own needs, and many of them have a personal relationship with Jesus.  It's so good to hear the stories, the needs, the inspirations and encouragements.

We watched an 8 minute video of Steve Furtick from his Global Leadership Summit talk entitled Audacious Faith.  In the talk he described the need from 2 Kings 3 to "dig ditches" in our lives to prepare to receive the blessings of God.  I then challenged people to figure out what ditch God would have them dig--what commitment they could make to God in order to allow Him the access to grow them spiritually.

People seemed inspired to ask that important question for the summer.  If you are able, go to our website  www.orchardhillchurch.org and register for the Global Leadership Summit on August 9-10 this summer.

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Say a prayer of thanks this Memorial Day!

In May of 1868, General John Logan first proclaimed Memorial Day as a day to remember those who had died in our nation's service.  By 1890 many individual states had declared Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, a holiday.  In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act which included Memorial Day as a national holiday and an annual three day weekend for federal employees.

My Confession
I keep forgetting the ultimate purpose of Memorial Day is to remember those who have died in service to our country.  I wonder if maybe people in our congregation also forget.  This three day weekend is busy and filled with so much fun, family, and travel.

Prayer of Remembrance
On Sunday we will say a special prayer of remembrance for those who have died serving our country--thanking God for their service and sacrifice.  Maybe, you could remember to say a similar prayer on Memorial Day.  It is such a privilege to live in a free and prosperous nation.  This is an incredible gift of God for us!

Taylor Morris
This reminds me to pray also for Taylor Morris, who is a friend to many in our congregation.  Taylor was was seriously injured in Afganistan recently when he stepped on an IED during a Green Beret Patrol.  He is the grandson of Sid Morris, the son of Dan and Julie Morris and his sister Claire often attends our 11:01 service.

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All this in only two days!

So many good things happen in a couple of days!  God is at work in many different ways and I want to be sure to celebrate God and all He does.

On Saturday a team of 7 returned from Atlanta inspired to make a difference in our families.  We had attended the Orange Conference at a Civic Center there.

Below is a picture of 5 guys who were baptised in the Cedar River on Sunday afternoon by Jeff Mickey, our college director.  Yes, it was cold!  But they did it anyway.  Their testimonies were strong and amazing.  This was a symbol of their new life in Christ.

 Following a cold baptism!

That same night we had a prayer sendoff for this year's mission team to Gorongosa, Mozambique.  This is a talented, faithful team of people who will serve within our target community and many will visit the children that they sponsor there.  Orchard families support almost 300 children in this area of Africa.  This support provides education, faith encouragement, medicine and strengthening of the entire community.  It's powerful!

Go Mozambique Team 2012!

On the same Sunday we finished our teaching series, Stories from the Seats!  Such authentic stories by regular people whose lives are touched by God.  You can find these by clicking on Orchard's Home Page--Listen to teaching.  

On Monday we had a work day with more than 50 people serving to spruce up our Cedar Falls campus--we saw commitment, joy, fellowship and great skills.

On Monday evening, we had our second meeting with New Members and about 35 people desire to join our mission of ....Helping people become fully devoted followers of Christ!

Like I said, so many good things that God does in only two days!  Yea God!

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Stories from the Seats!

I love hearing the current teaching series that we call Stories from the Seats. This is our 4th or 5th year of doing stories and they have been so very well received by our congregation. We do this after Easter hoping that the stories will encourage our Easter visitors to come back the following Sundays. I saw some of our Easter visitors back yesterday. That's a great thing.

Yesterday Rick Schupback, Caleb Hamer, Laura Hoy and Bob Hennessey shared in our four different worship sites. We will add Jesse Brogan this week and that will complete the list of those who will be sharing their narratives and testimonies.

It takes so much courage and faith to stand in front of our large congregation and vulnerably share the brokeness, the lessons and the blessings of God throughout our lives. Many of these stories are powerful testimonies that relate the power of God's Spirit within a life. These folks share not because they have it all together. They share because God has it all together and it's His power that they depend upon.

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This one's for you Jesus....Not in vain!

I've been thinking about this since Easter. In the Community Center services my teaching included the verses 1 Corinthians 15:57-58:

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord means that each of us must stop and think carefully about what assignments God has given to us in this era of our lives. We are called to raise children, invest in a marriage, walk with an aging parent, or serve the church or community in some major role, build a business or teach a classroom of students. What is our assignment? Whatever it is, we must do it fully!

And then the verse closes with the words, "not in vain." Our work counts for Christ. It matters. It really matters. God is watching. He is taking note of our hearts and our motivations and our actions. It matters to Him.

I hope you will see your life in these phrases and often repeat them as you face challenges in your day--"This one is for you Jesus!" And then right away remind yourself, "Not in vain!"

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If...then.....promises

Our daily scripture yesterday was Genesis 28: 10-22. I was struck all day by the if...then promises made by Jacob at the end of those verses. Verses Genesis 28:20-22 read like this,

"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to werar so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

These verses made me remember some of the "if...then...promises" that I have made to God and even some that our church continues to make to God.

I remember ....

(30+ years ago) If you'll help our newly born twins to live (Joel and Emily), then I'll serve you wholeheartedly the rest of my life.

(30+ years ago) If you'll provide for the essential needs for our family, then I'll give my best in ministry pointing people to Jesus and helping others become fully devoted followers of Christ.

(Recently) If you'll walk with me and give me the health and strength needed, then I'll continue to focus and invest in the ministry of Orchard Hill Church.

(Recently) If you choose to give us a growing family (now 10 grandchildren), then we will serve them and pray for them and do our part to help them know Christ.

For our church....

If you give us the opportunity, then we will remember that the church belongs to Jesus (He died to give us life) and surrender to your Spirit's leading.

If you give us resources, then we will, to our very best, steward them faithfully for you and your kingdom.

If you continue to trust us with a growing congregation, then we will faithfully work to help them become fully devoted followers of Christ.

God is so very gracious! I wonder if you can look back and remember any of the "if....then...promises" that you have made to God?

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