I was thinking about a quote I saw when I was preparing for FLOOD last Sunday night….  Tell me what you think…..  “While we may not be called to martyr our lives (here in the US), we must martyr our life.”  Michael Tait was speaking about our affluent life here in the States.  I have come to the conclusion we have replaced God with security.  Security in the status quo.  We think that by serving God that should entitle us to a happy and easy life of wealth and health and prosperity….  If you have come to that conclusion through reading scripture your translation is off….  Tell me what you think!!!  So many people are giving up on God because they have come to the wrong conclusion that God is gonna make it all easy for them when we surrender to Him…  Thats not what He said!!!!

The heart of the matter is this…..  Church is not a place to go it’s a life to live.  Here at FLOOD we aim to help people re-discover the truth that the whole Christ-following life is not a once or twice a week thing…..  Its a whole experience that begins when you meet Christ and it permeates every aspect of your being.  It’s who you are and its why you are….  Its what you do and why you do it….  Come out on June 27th to FLOOD and experience God in a whole new way…  We are taking up donations for helpbags…  A ministry that is relevant and real… Everything donated that day will go directly into the hands of someone homeless…  Its a tangible way to make a difference….  Go to www.helpbags.org to find out what to bring out….  5-7PM on June 27th….  Free food, great music and an opportunity to make a difference….  The heart of the matter…

On June 27th we will be having an opportunity to put our passion into action….  We will be taking up donations for Helpbags a ministry right here in Charlotte  that puts into the hands of the homeless things they need for there immediate help such as, socks, individually wrapped cookies crackers, rain poncho’s, handi wipes, hot packs, etc.  Go to www.helpbags.org or their facebook page to see them all.  I was thinking that what has happened to us to think that all there is to our following Christ is going to church and coming home and just being good and giving a couple of dollars away.  Lets regain that heat that came when He ignited the flame in us all…  PASSION into ACTION…  June 27th we will get to the heart of the matter….  5-7PM accepting donations to change a life….  Good Music, Fun Time, with a Relevant Message on how to be church not do church….  Come experience God in a whole new way!!!

Mark 5:36 is one of my favorite verses of all….  In the Message translation it sounds like this…  Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader,”Don’t listen to them trust me.”  So many times Jesus has to nudge me and remind me of this…..  Don’t listen to them trust me…  With all the things that run through my head sometimes I have to continue to go back to the basics…  We often think we have to make things bigger and better to attract people to God.  When all we really need to do is remember to just tell others what He has done for us and keep pointing to Him through our love for each other….  Remember June 27th to bring one of the supplies needed for the helpbags…..  Go to www.helpbags.org and check the list….  June 27th at 5:00PM the food will be ready….  Come experience God in a whole new way.  Awesome music, good food, and a whole new approach!!!!

On June 27th we will be talking about how we as individuals need to get to the heart of the matter….  How until we start acting like the church people will never take us seriously.  We have an opportunity to show what that can truly look like in a small way….  The ministry that Penny spoke to us about last month is in need of some supplies.  Not heaps of money or anything like that but stuff like, packs of crackers, or raisins, cookies, band aids, and gallon size zip-lock bags, new men socks, things we take for granted that could actually save a life.  I will be setting up donation binds the night of FLOOD.  Are you willing to step out and truly make a difference???  She passed out around 200 a couple of days ago and is now looking for more supplies so she can not eradicate homelessness in Charlotte but just make somebodies day a little bit better….  Isn’t that what we should all be trying to do…  Isn’t that what Christ is calling us to do…..  They will now you by your love….  June 27th at United Wesleyan Church….  Come make a difference and experience God in a whole new way!!!!