Are you ever disappointed with God?

This Sunday I'm filling in for the preacher at a church on Sunday morning. The title of my message is Trusting God In Spite of Disappointment. I think it's a pretty good message.

What do you do when God disappoints you? What do you think? How do you feel?

Bring Something Sunday!

Hey group – this Sunday July 19th, I would like to ask you to bring something to share in our worship gathering. It can be anything. You can bring a reading, a poem, a story, a book, a picture, a scripture passage, a card, a quote, or even something to eat or drink. I don’t care what it is – just bring something. Thanks in advance for your participation.

Week of Prayer for Children

You’re Invited!

If you believe that informed, united, intercessory prayer can alter the course of the lives of children, and if have a passion for making a difference in the lives of at-risk children, then join A Week of Prayer for Children and participate in The Leadership Summit! This is an ideal opportunity for those who lead congregations, children’s ministries, or for those who participate as prayer and outreach leaders. It is also focused on leaders in the private sector with concern for the future of our children.

A Week of Prayer for Children, August 16-23, 2009
A prayer guide will be available by July 1st via the Internet from any of the sponsoring groups for all who want to pray in unity around specific, identifiable needs of our children. The guide focuses on 7 systemic issues facing children in the greater Houston area. There is no need to go anywhere. Pray wherever you are! Pray in your prayer closet, at family devotion time, in small groups, at work, and in your congregation. Do so with the knowledge that your voice is being joined in informed, unified prayer with thousands of others across the area.
A Leadership Summit, Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Did you know that Houston is ranked among the lowest in the nation among cities regarding several critical aspects of caring for children? The Summit will provide up-to-date information on the issues and current needs of at-risk children; it will highlight practical ways to respond; it will mobilize prayer for the children of our city; and it will draw media attention to the needs of children.

The Summit will be held at the facilities of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston, TX, 77027 from 11am – 1pm. Hear a presentation of strategic information regarding at-risk children in the Greater Houston area and join your voice with others in a united season of informed prayer.

Sponsors
The Summit is sponsored by a growing number of congregations and ministries that are listed on page 2 of this Fact Sheet. If you would like to join the list of sponsors, contact Jim Herrington at jim@missionhouston.org.

The cost of lunch at the Summit is $10. To register go to this link (https://secure.ga1.org/05/childrenatrisksummit)

The Wellspring Creed

We believe in God – the creator of the universe:
God is full of mercy and grace,
God is just and loves justice,
God is love and is on our side.
God’s hope is to be in relationship with every person,
God’s plan is to restore all of creation to wholeness, and to see his dream for the world - his kingdom come.

We believe in Jesus the Christ:
Jesus is the human expression of God,
Jesus is the savior of the world,
Jesus is the living demonstration of God’s dream for the world.
Jesus came to put the world right again,
Jesus came to display the justice of God,
Jesus came to provide real & eternal life – life as God intended it to be lived.

We believe in the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is here now,
The Holy Spirit guides us into truth,
The Holy Spirit empowers our lives as we seek God’s kingdom as our first priority.

We believe that God has a purpose for each of us, and so in faith:
We commit to recognize & honor God,
We commit to pursue a relationship with God,
We commit to embody the character of God,
We commit to align our lives with God’s dream for the world – helping to make the world a better place.

Amen

easter blessing 2009

blessings on you...

you who have waited these forty days.

who have sat with anticipation in the garden.

who have remained in the upper room.

who have hoped for today.

and blessings on you...

who have waited much longer than forty days.

who have lost, been scorned, and are broken-hearted.

who have been prideful, or ashamed, or simply alone.

for you who have run out of hope.

blessings on all of you for today is a new day.

today will not take away the pain.

today will not solve everything.

today will not make the past different or better.

but today, in this space, you are loved.

not loved because you have behaved well.

not because you have sinned less.

or because you believe in a man that may have died on a cross.

you are loved because many people in this room have made a commitment.

a commitment to be a people not just of words, but of action.

you are loved because you are here.

you are welcomed,

and you are blessed.

amen.

happy easter everyone!

Deep Change or Slow Death

In his book "Deep Change" Robert Quinn coined the phrase slow death or deep change. Every day individuals and congregation make choices that lead in one of these two directions. Deep change is hell! It's frighening and messy - yet it is key to any kind of transformation. It takes great faith to journey into deep change. Why do so many who claim to be people of faith, have so little when it comes to this important aspect in life?

If you come up with an answer please let me know because currently I'm left scratching my head.

House

Question???
What kind of house did Mother Theresa have?
What kind of house does Greg Mortenson have? (Three Cups of Tea)
What kind of house does Blake M. have? (Toms shoes)
What kind of house does Ruben have? (made a difference in D's life)
Answer???
I really don't know what any of these peoples house looks like, but I do know that they made an impact on the people around them and the community,

So... I ask myself "What kind of "house" does Wellspring have"
We don't have any idea what it might be for the futere, but are WE making an impact in the community.

For me, I am going to TRY to stick with the commitment that it doesn't matter what our "house" may look like. I know this is probobly a no brainer for most of you, but for me I realized yesterday that I was really wrapped up in the "outward" appearance of Wellspring. I don't want our identity to be in a building, but I was there.... and I am glad for the changes... it allowed conversation to help me realize how bad I was there.
Hope this makes sense.
D

Legislative Action on Trafficking

Hey guys, here is a good story that tells of good progress in Human Trafficking assistance. (Even though it was a long time coming.)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/immigration/6154231.html


This next link is a editorial by Bob Sanborn that describes the depths of Human Trafficking in Houston. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6132874.html

Mr Sanborn also mentions a bill (SB 89) going to the State Senate. This bill will provide for a state task force that will help in combating human trafficking through Texas as well as providing for public awareness, education and victims assistance.

christmas

the other day i got to visit st. paul cathedral's first advent service of 2008.

there were oh, about a thousand people there...

full choir-adults and kids,

and of course the place is HUGE and breathtakingly beautiful.

we got to sing one christmas carol, 'come o come emmanuel' and the whole time i kept thinking about how badly i want to be back in houston so i can sing christmas carols with my friends at wellspring...and maybe even do a powerpoint with lots of holidays photos. 

can't wait to see you guys...two more weeks! hope you're all doing well :)

In these troubled times, I thought this appropriate:

Corcovado parted the sky
And through the darkness
On us he shined
Crucified in stone
Still his blood is my own
Glory behold all my eyes have seen
Have seen

I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed to be a witness

Some have flown away
And can't be with us here today
Like the hills of my home
Some have crumbled and now are gone
Gather around for today won't come again
Won't come again

I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed to be a witness

So much sorrow and pain
Still I will not live in vain
Like good questions never asked
Is wisdom wasted on the past
Only by the grace of God go I
Go I

I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed to be a witness

I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed
I am blessed to be a witness

-ben H.

Something to disagree with???

Thought the song was fantastic and the quotes and their authors very provoking. Maybe something to think about.

(I'm not quite as savvy as textelc, so I posted the link and not the video, sorry...)

ike

i have been watching that hurricane in complete horror. i heard that the shuman's and the napier's are alright, what about the rest of you? i realize it might be awhile before any of you even see this since there's a loss of electricity. just know that i stayed up all night watching that damn hurricane roll in and i was thinking of all of you every minute. wish i was there with you all...

God Of This City

You're the God of this city

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation

You are

You're the light in this darkness

You're the hope to the hopeless

You're the peace to the restless

You are

For there is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come

Greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things have yet to come

Greater things are still to be done here

I've been hearing bits and pieces of this song lately, I don't remember exactly when or where, however when I heard the story of it's lyrics I was immediately taken. I don't want to mess up the story so check out this interview of the band Bluetree.
The song has been recorded by Chris Tomlin, but check out the Belfast version by Bluetree.

birthdays

i hope everyone else over there that also has an august birthday had a good time celebrating! miss you guys!

in germany

i miss you guys :(

i'm in germany right now and i've been asked a million questions on how all of you are doing...and it makes me miss you guys a lot...can't wait to be home and with all of you again!

More Human Trafficking links

International Justice Mission - www.ijm.org
Polaris Project - www.polarisproject.org
Free the Slaves - www.freetheslaves.net
Redeemed Ministries - www.redeemedministries.net

I want to say something

I want to say something...
I'm not sure what...
I'm not sure when...
I'm not sure why...
I'm not sure how...

I just know I want to say something!

TRAFFICKING

I'm not quite sure what has made me pay so close attention to the discussion we've been having lately. Shannon came to town and on a Wednesday night not too long ago shared many things with us about the her ministry. The one thing that struck me so hard that night were the stories of human trafficking. I've heard these things before but this time there was something that grabbed my attention. I'm not much on research but I couldn't/can't get this thing off my mind. So, I went looking around and found a lot of numbers that, even though I've heard them before, still astound me. Here are a few numbers involved:

27,000,000 - trapped as slaves around the world

800,000-900,000 – The number of people trafficked across international borders, world wide

14,500-17,500 – The number of foreign nationals trafficked into the United States each year.

200,000 – The number of American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry.

5000-7000 – The number of Asians trafficked into the United States each year.

3000-5000 ea. – The next largest groups from Latin America, Europe and Eurasia.

Or how about the ages involved. 8 year old kids working in fields and sweat shops around the world and in the United States. Girls as young as 13-14 year old girls sold as sex slaves. 10-12 year olds taken from their families to become soldiers. Not to mention the adults that are taken out of their country on the pretense of good jobs and money to support the family left behind, only to find themselves in a field or factory working to pay off the debt that never goes away.

I'm not through looking into this and I hope y'all keep looking too. The only thing is, what do I do with all this new found information? How in the world can this kind of stuff be happening in the 21st century? I'm praying that God will show me, or us, what to do with this.

Remember, this is not only in Asia, Africa, Europe, Mexico or South America. This is happening in the United States of America.... The great State of Texas.... The very culturally diverse City of Houston.... and possibly my own community of Spring.

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/Trafficking_toolkit_Oct06.pdf
http://www.jnet-trafficking.org/
http://www.humantrafficking.org/
http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/annualreports/tr2006/assessment_of_efforts_to_combat_tip.pdf
http://www.humantrafficking.org/uploads/publications/2007_TIP_Report.pdf
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.cahthouston.org/

I don't think I'm finished yet...

Some Kingdom Thoughts

Here are two other takes on the idea of the Kingdom of God:

1. From Scott McKnight in his book "A Community Called Atonement"
Jesus decides to express his whole vision in one phrase, and he chooses " kingdom of God." It is here and it is coming, and it is small and it is big, and it is powerful and it it sometimes silent, and it is for big folks and little folks, and it is for off-the-map sinners and on-the-map righteous prigs (if they'll just learn to follow Jesus and stop thinking so highly of themselves.) The kingdom, is the society wherein God's will is established and practiced. "Kingdom" once again, it about people, about what I will call the ecclesial community.

The church is a local expression of God's kingdom. It is a community in which God's will is to be actualized. The church is the alternative society to the structures of power found in the world. The kingdom is justice and peace and a society wherein God's loving will is lived out.

The kingdom of God, is the society in which the will of God is established to transform all of life. The kingdom of God is more than what God is doing "within you" and more than God's persoanl "dynamic presence"; it is what God is doing in this world through the community of faith for the redemptive plans of God - including what God is doing in you and me. It transforms relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the world.

2. From Brian McLaren in his book Everything Must Change:
"We talked about eh metaphor Jesus used again and again to convey his essential message: the Kingdom of God. We considered how this message of the kingdom - conrtrary to popular belief - was not focused on how to escape this world and its problems by going to heaven after death, but instead was focused on how God's will could be done on earth, in history, during this life. We described God's kingdom in terms of God's dreams coming true for this earth, of God's justice and peace repacing earth's injustice and disharmony."

"What could change if we applied the message of Jesus - the good news of the kingdom of God - to the world's greatest problems?

What do you think?

perhaps?

The "kingdom of Heaven" is a condition of the heart - not something that comes "upon the earth" or "after death." 

-Friedrich Nietzsche