The Power of the Cross

Sunday April 6th will go down as one of most exciting days of my life. My son Logan was Baptized into Christ! It's amazing how a young boy can so bless his father. Imagine how blessed God must have felt when finally someone gave Him his full devotion. The power of the Cross continues to amaze me.

747 Principle

A few years ago, I introduced an idea to our teens - to pray specifically each day at or around 7:47. It's something that, to this day, some are still doing. Recently, through our Connect 2 Youth small group, I reintroduced the idea. Our teens are praying specifically for each other to REACH CONNECT & GROW! We are focusing on the vision, mission, & values of CCC.

We are also focusing on a new opportunity to REACH CONNECT & GROW as we parner with Crossroads Missions of Louisville, KY. A teen mission trip is planned for July19-26 to New Orleans. Anyone interested should see me. Remember that there are limited spaces!

I'm challenging you teens to pray for God to allow you to REACH CONNECT & GROW more. In your culture, you are called to tolerance. As Christians, you are called to something greater. You are called to love, (Ephesians 4:15) to speak the truth in love.

I recently read an article by Josh McDowell. He compared tolerance to love like this:

Tolerance says, "You must approve of what I do."
Love responds, "I must do something harder; I will love you even when your behavior offends me."

Tolerance says, "You must agree with me."
Love responds, "I must do something harder, I will tell you the truth, because the truth will set you free."

Tolerance says, "You must allow me to have my way."
Love responds, "I must do something harder, I will plead with you to follow the right way, because you are worth the risk."

Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks.
Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything.

Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

It's not easy speaking the truth, but we must obey God's word rather than to yield to the pressure of our culture. Choose to Love!

From Grief to Joy

JOY- That's what Jeff has been preaching about over the past several weeks. And who doesn't want more of it? Jesus, in speaking to his disciples, told them that their grief would turn to Joy. John 16:33 records this, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Then he turns his face toward heaven and prayed to God, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."

Jesus proclaims the time has come. His death, burial, resurrection and ascension is near. It's overwhelming when we pause and reflect on what he's asking the Father. Glorify your Son by letting him die on a cross. Check out this link. It's a powerful clip from a short film called "Most" or "The Bridge."

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=13a4a045cd290bc2ae2d

Paul

I want to challenge our teens and children to put their faith into action. In the book of James, we are told that faith without action is dead. How are you demonstrating your faith in Christ? Let me give you an example of action that makes an eternal difference.

Our church has partnered with Lifeline Christian Mission to collect as much peanut butter as we can to send to Orphans in Haiti. Our goal is 1000 jars! Explain to your family, your friends, your neighbors, your classmates what you are doing and ask them to join in as well. Be sure to use this opportunity to share the gospel of Christ!

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.


Paul

CORE

Just a reminder to Student Leaders that we have CORE at our house this Wednesday night. Please pray specifically about how God is leading you to SERVE more.

AXIS Youth Ministry

Reach Connect Grow

In Christ,

Paul

Childhood Relived

As my com padre (Jeff) mourns the Buckeyes loss, I mourn the loss in Big D. I shared a story with my son a few weeks back about how I cried over a football game when I was his age. It was the NFC Championship game between the 49ers & the Cowboys. Joe Montana throws a touchdown pass to Dwight Clark to win the game- AKA "the catch". Yes, I admit it- I cried.

Well, God must have brought that memory to my mind in time for me tell my son because he had the same experience this past Sunday when the Cowboys lost in a very close game. We went off to be alone after the game and he wanted to know every detail about my experience as a child. He went to school the next day and shared with a friend of his (a cowboys fan of course) and the friend told him that he cried as well. All this crying over a football game you say- Yes.

You know, it makes us feel better when we know that someone can relate. When someone knows exactly how we feel. It helped my son. And it's something that helps us all. It's great to know that we have a God that not only knows us, but knows exactly how we feel. He knows every temptation we face because Jesus was tempted in every way we are yet without sin. Isn't it awesome to know that God cares for us that much? It's also great to be part of a church that cares about people and wants all people to come grow with us to become what God wants us to be.

Go Packers or anybody playing the Patriots!!!

Paul

The beginning of the blog

This is my first post. Come back soon for updates.

Paul