Christ Tinted Shades

James 3: A Story

Rick — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:38:42 +0000

[HT - Jomato]

Sweetly Broken – Jeremy Riddle

Rick — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:40:35 +0000

Reminder for Tonight!

Rick — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Meet at New Hope at 6:00PM for Pizza, then we’ll head to Border’s at 7:00PM for coffee and discussion.

See ya tonight!

Calendar Update!!!

Rick — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:15:28 +0000

Click here for the September & October calendar!!!

(I love these two months!)

Prayer for Galveston

Rick — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:18:31 +0000

Hey guys. Please be in prayer for Galveston today! Specifically pray for David. Those of you who went to Mission GTX will remember David from the ministry house. He is a native Galveston resident, and he has chosen to stay on the island at the ministry house. It looks very dangerous for anyone who is staying, so please pray that the Lord will protect him!

Soul Cafe @ Java Ranch!

Rick — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:32:52 +0000

A reminder for you guys that we will not be meeting at the church building tomorrow night. We will instead meet at Java Ranch at 7:00 PM. Bring money for a cup of Joe! See you guys tomorrow!

“Give Me Your Eyes” – Brandon Heath

Rick — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:18:24 +0000

Mission GTX Movie!

Rick — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:42:33 +0000

At our Wednesday night gathering this week, we will be showing a 10-15 minute movie about our youth group’s mission to Galveston, TX. Please make plans to join us in supporting our youth group and to see our amazing experiences, and how God blessed us over those few days with love, service, hard work, fellowship, worship, and a whole lot of fun!

We’ll see you Wednesday at 7:00PM!

Pictures coming soon to this blog…

A Heart of Submission

A Domestic Missionary — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:18:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon in our Ladies Heart to Heart we had a very nice discussion on the act of submission. I will admit that submission for me has and still remains in some areas to be a struggle, for when we decide to abandon our personal will and yeild to anothers it is never easy for our prideful self to accept. In the relationship of parent child I remember it being dramatically a big deal when my parents would command me to submit to them in an area where I didn’t completely 100% agree, I would normally allow my wild teenage emotions take over my impulsive behavior causing a big scene of embarrassment and disrepect. I can not tell you the remorse I now have for all of those foolish times I behaved so irrationally and ungodly to my parents. My parents adopted me when I was 11 completely abandoning their retirement to raise their grandaughter and I did not give them the love and respect that they deserved as my parents. Now, I look out at all of you and am so impressed by how I see you interact with your parents, in a very loving and respectful way. I know that you all have your moments as well and struggle with submission. The thing with submission is that in our submission to our parents or authority we are ultimately submitting to God’s will. I am called to submit to my husband and honestly that is extremely difficult at times because we don’t always agree on things but in those moments I remember my devotion to God and His will for my life as a wife as well as for you all as children. Ephesians 6:1, which I know well having impressed it hard into my growing children’s minds and hearts, Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Let me tell you as a parent I desperately try to ingrain in my children’s minds that the reason they must obey and honor/submit to me is not only because of the consequences following it but first and foremost because they love God and want to obey, honor and submit to Him out of their love. Everything we do in this life, every decision is an act of submission… the question is…. submission to whom? You see as reminded to me lately through experience and the Spirit we are all slaves, slaves of either sin or righteousness. Romans 6:17-18. We can not stand in the middle of sin/self/pride and righteousness/God/Christ, we do not serve and submit to 2 seperate masters, we serve and submit to only 1 or the other. Who is it that you submit to in your daily decisions, small and large, simple or life changing?

I pray that God will give each of you ladies the strength and discernment to daily make decisions in a constant loving devotion and submission to Him and His will for you, pushing through the emotions that may flood through you. May His power fill you as you seek to yield to the Spirit and abandon your self. I tell you this… consult God in all situations, there is hardly ever a time when we must react in such away that you can not take a moment; a sliver of time to talk to God. Try it, stop in the moment and reflect on His word and seek His wisdom and power. And remember we have the perfect example of what a submissive heart looks like just study Jesus in all of His interactions with His father. Let the perfect love of Christ be the motivation in your journey to embrace a submissive heart….

What a blessing it always is to dwell in His holy word with you all over coffee :0).

JOYfully in Him,

Kelli

About MISSION GTX (July 17-22, 2008)

Rick — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:07:29 +0000

On July 17 we are leaving bound for Galveston, TX! However, I need you guys to know something up front: THIS IS NOT A VACATION! This trip is not for the faint-hearted or those who are not willing to labor in love. When Paul remembers the Thessalonian Christians’ labor of love, he remembers that they literally loved in action so much for their brothers and sisters that they put themselves in a state of discomfort in order to make others more comfortable. They went home everyday and crashed in their beds with aching bodies because of their love for Christ and their love for each other! I bet it’s not everyday that any of us ache at night because of all our laboring in love.

I want you to be informed and prepared about this trip, so read this letter carefully.

We will leave July 17 to return on July 22.

First, you need to know that we are going to Galveston to provide much needed help to a ministry that practices what they preach. They are not playing around! These people have given up their lives to do what they do. They have sacrificed comfort for the sake of the souls of men and women. For a few days, we will be doing the same! Here is what I mean:

Where will we sleep? Bring sleeping bags, pillows, and whatever you may want to make a bed. We are sleeping in an old YMCA building gym. A Church in Galveston has graciously offered to let us use their YMCA building for a headquarters. Everything works as it did when it was in business: showers, bathrooms, electricity, etc. I’ll give you the bad news about the facility first: They do not run the A/C in the gym. The good news: We’ll only be there at night, and we can round up a couple of fans to bring to add to the ones they already will be furnishing for us. Yes, this is a sacrifice! No, this will not be comfortable! But, yes, it will also be fun, and rewarding! And hey, at least we have somewhere to lay our heads (Matt 8:20). (I’m not a fan of hotel mission trips!) (note: depending on our number, we may be able to use their sanctuary for sleeping that does have A/C.)

What will we eat? The ministry staff has offered to provide all of our meals; however, bring money to eat a couple of meals out as a group. We may eat a couple of fast food breakfasts or suppers, and we will also plan for one evening to go eat at a more decent restaurant.

What will we do? There are many things planned for us. We will help with several housing projects in the area (fixing fences, repairing porches, etc.). We will help with the “off the streets” program in whatever way they need us to. This is a program that takes in anyone (poor, homeless, or other) with addictions or other various problems and gives them Christ, teaching them Scripture, teaching them life skills, and providing them with work. We will help prepare and serve the “Hobo Breakfast” on Saturday that sometimes feeds around 300 people. We will pass out Bibles and pray with people. And much more…

What else will we do? Ok, so the entire trip isn’t going to be work and no play! We will spend the evenings together at the beach, on the Sea Wall, in shops, and just having good fellowship and good times. We will begin our days in prayer and devotionals. Some evenings we will have devotionals under the moon out on the rocks that go out into the water. Sunday, we will worship on the sands of Galveston, singing praises to God and taking Communion while sharing our experiences from the week. The last day, Monday, will be a beach day. If the waves are right, we may rent a couple of surfboards and catch a few rides!

Who will be going? Kelli and I will accompany you, along with Roger Edwords. We will also meet up in Houston with B. J. Groome (minister of Townwest Church of Christ) and a group of high-schoolers that he teaches.

What do I need to bring? You will definitely need to bring some cash (or card) for a few meals. If you want to buy souvenirs or anything at all other than a surfboard rental, you will need to bring money for that as well. Bring your swimsuit: modesty required, use your wisdom, and when in doubt, wear a t-shirt. Bring a towel or 2 for showering, and a towel for beaching. Bring clothes that can get dirty, and bring clothes that won’t get dirty. Bring your suit and tie or dress for preaching, just kiddin! Bring your bedding. If we need to wash clothes, we can all pitch in a few quarters at the laundromat down the road. Bring sunscreen. Bring your Bible. Bring Christ and the love that He has poured into your hearts.

I can’t wait for this trip! Be praying for Mission GTX. And remember our day of fasting and prayer for the mission on July 16^th, the Wednesday before we leave.

God bless you guys!

Grace & Peace,

Rick