I love this time of the year. Especially Christmas music. I love it. This is one of my favorite Christmas videos of all time, check it out:
As performed by Dave Barnes
Drink Coffee. Do Good
Every two months, we at New Passion Church focus on a new missions organization that we can promote to our people so they know the opportunities that exist outside of the walls of the church where they can help create revolutionary change, either through their local influence or their global influence. In December & January, we’ve decided to focus on “Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee.“
A lot of people drink coffee…minus me. So, we figured this is not only a practical way for people to do good by doing something they already do. It is also an opportunity to include others in their efforts with the Christmas and Winter season upon us. When people drink coffee from “Land of a Thousand Hills” they help genocide survivors from Rwanda and their families earn a fair wage for their labor in the coffee fields, they provide ministry opportunities for the villages, and they get a fresh, premium cup of coffee.
We’ve got several neat things in store for our missions focus with “Land of a Thousand Hills,” so if you are in or around Grovetown in December and January….find your way to New Passion and join us!
Learn more about Drinking Coffee and Doing Good. Order Coffee and Merchandise from Land of a Thousand Hills.
Here’s one more video, it talks about the people of Rwanda working side by side now thanks to the coffee cooperatives. Check it out!
What Can You Say?
I’m learning a whole lot in this new role as a pastor.
I was called late Friday afternoon, by a guy who has been attending New Passion faithfully and who was a major part of a former student ministry where I served in a neighboring town.
His sister in law passed away suddenly from a virus a week prior and they asked if I would say a few words from a pastoral standpoint at a graveside funeral the next afternoon, that they were putting together for the sister-in-law’s family before they had to leave town. I agreed, but reluctantly because I’ve never “officiated” a funeral before.
The husband had no insurance, so they could not afford an elaborate funeral. Her family wanted to cremate the body, but her husbands family wanted to give her as much of a proper burial as possible. They settled on a “Green Burial” where the casket and the body will return to the earth over a matter of time.
I did everything I thought I was supposed to do. I said everything I prepared to say; shared all of the verses that I thought were appropriate. I spoke with the family and did my best to console them and encourage them. But, something just felt weird. In the middle of the quick service, I felt empty. Although I was the one talking, it was as if I was not there, only looking in on the family that was staring at this mound of dirt, where the 24 year old daughter-in-law and wife was buried a day prior. My words rang hollow in my own head. I couldn’t help but to think that there was nothing I was saying that was making a difference. Sure you may be holier than me and say that Scripture always makes a difference, but I would beg to differ.
If I was standing at a grave site burying my 24 year old wife, I think in my devastation I would tune everything out. I know I probably said it 10 times that there was nothing I could say that would take the sting of this death away in that moment. I am not sure if it was even heard. Is there anything that can be said when a family is standing there soaked in their tears, dealing with such a great loss? I will forever hate doing funerals. I don’t understand how pastors can perform them as if they are another service. Though I have lost loved ones and I have been a Paul Bearer and attended many funerals the reality of death never struck me in this way before.
As I prepared to leave, the Mother-in-law walked to my car with me and talked with me further. Before I got into the car, she handed me a thank you card sealed in an envelope. I didn’t want to be presumptuous that they had given me any money, because that is not why I was there, so I didn’t even respond that they ‘didn’t have to do that’ as she gave me the card, in case it was just a simple ‘Thank you.’ They did give me a financial gift, but I’ve never felt so wrong about money in my life! Regardless of what that money is used for, whether bills or ministry or anything else, I cannot get over the fact that it required someone dying for me to obtain that money. It may seem simple for some, but two days later, I cannot shake that thought. As I drove away, I had the thought, “What can really be said in that moment of saying goodbye?” Do we really know? Or do we only pretend to know? Maybe I am weird, but this funeral was the toughest thing I have ever done.
Join the Conversation…What has your experiences with death and funerals been?
People of the Second Chance
There’s been a buzz around Twitter today. Here’s what its all about. Keep your eyes open for this: I Copied this from POTSC –
Today something starts anew.
It is the first small step into officially beginning People of the Second Chance (Website).
What is People of the Second Chance? Truthfully, we’re still sort of figuring that out.
But we do know this…we have dreamed for years about a movement of people that would let radical integrity and radical grace consume them in their life and leadership.
And in God’s perfect and ironic timing, People of the Second Chance is no longer just a nice concept with some stickers and tee shirts, but the very story we are living out right now.
In the past few weeks of learning, loss, tears, and experiencing a significant valley in our lives, we are more certain than ever that God does his best work in brokenness.
But let us be very clear here. This isn’t about us. It never has been. You see we have this simple belief that deep inside of all us we are desperately wanting grace, forgiveness, second chances and a fresh start.
We realize this is a little sloppy, unclear, and a bit rough around the edges. Even so, we still want to humbly and with sincerity invite you to join us.
Every journey must begin somewhere. This is our very simple somewhere. Welcome to the People of the Second Chance
Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite
Trying to Find Air to Breathe Again
I downloaded the new Flyleaf Album, Memento Mori from Amazon the other day.
I absolutely love the second song on the Album “Again” – Its a very powerful song.
I love the chorus…it says,
Here you are down on your knees again
trying to find air to breathe again
Only surrender will help you now
I love you please see and believe again
I think it just hits home and probably will to many people because how many times in life do we find that we’ve exhausted all of our own power to live out this life, and the only way we can continue to move forward is to surrender totally to God?
This song is sung by Lacy Mosley with such passion it almost makes you feel as if you are the one on your knees before God trying to find your next breathe to go on. Check out the song below and then Join the Conversation…Do you ever attempt to live out this life under your own power, only to find yourself trying to find the air to breathe again? Or, am I the only one?