e-news for week of 12/30/07 - 1/05/08

We’re starting a new series this week called, “Seismic Christianity” that comes out of the book of Acts. I’m stoked about it for a bunch of reasons: first and foremost – this is the book connected to the beginning of the church: an upstart movement began by a rag tag assortment of men who had been trained by an itinerant Jewish rabbi who claimed he was the son of God. You might read this and say, “Scott, when you put it in those terms – this faith stuff doesn’t make a lot of sense.” I agree. There is no plausible human explanation as to why the entity called “the church” should have ever made it. Did you know that Jesus was not the only person in that time frame to claim to be the Messiah? Did you know there were other uprisings and promises made by would be messianic figures? Why don’t we have churches or gatherings devoted to them as well? What distinguishes Christ’s church? Why did it survive? Over the next several weeks, we are going to get our feet dirty as we walk in the sandals of the early church. So why is this series called “Seismic Christianity?” Because there was an earthquake in Jerusalem, Israel which has shaken the whole earth. I am completely charged up about this series.

I got a note that I wanted to share with you as a body:

Dear Elders, Scott, and members of FCC,

In Dr. Olen Brown’s book – Miracles – he speaks of quiet miracles. You gave my family one of those special quiet miracles this Christmas. Thank you for that. The gifts for my children let them know they are loved by our church. By church I don’t mean the wood and bricks of the building, but of the true loving Christians who stand up and love those who need extra love. We are blessed to be members of this church. We are blessed to be so loved. We are blessed by all the prayers that are said for our family everyday.

My family is together because of the miracles of God our Father – through his disciples of our church. I believe in God and His miracles. Continue to pray for our family.

Forum – you need to know that you are a great body. God working in us is doing great things within this ministry. We’re on mission and on purpose to connect people to God. I’m looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.