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Peru Update numero Quatro

We've had another great day here in Peru and we've estimated that at least 15 people accepted Christ at the clinic today. Brock spoke at tonight's service and Lori gave her testimony. Last night Sandy gave her testimony at the outdoor service that we had. The work team is moving along quite nicely and we're hoping that they will finish tiling the auditorium at the church tomorrow. Pray for them because it's been extra difficult trying to lay the huge tiles on an uneven concrete floor and they are on the home stretch. We have one more big day of running the clinic, kids program, and working at the church so it's time to go to bed. Here's some more pics form the last couple of days. 

 
 
 
 

   

Peru Update Numero Tres

Peru Update part Dos

 
 

 
 
 

   

Sunday Night Notables: Peru Edition

 
  
  

 
 
  

Haiti/ PreSchool

3 of my 5 children have attended preschool at Sharonville United Methodist Church. Maybe you have heard but they actually had a missions team in Hati at the time of the earthquake and are presently still there. Here is an email explaining their current situation so that you can pray intelligently for them. 

"Tremors continued last night...our team is sleeping outside the clinic on the ground. They returned to the site where they had been staying this morning (it was a 2 story building) and they were able to dig thru the upper level of debris and some of the team retrieved their passports/gear. One of the orphans - a 1 year old has died. The team has a little water and some bread...they think they will meet with Bill Clinton today...he is aware of them/their location and stated there are 45,000 Americans in Haiti...many on mission teams like SUMC. They do not know if they will be able to bring out the orphan girls...probably not. Everyone is ok physically but very emotional. They do not know when they will get out. We have just 11 members there so they are a fragment of the situation and all things considered in a better state than most" 

As I posted yesterday we will be collecting things this Sunday so bring all that you can and drop it off at the Missional Living Table.  Here is an email from Matthew 25 for the financial contribution that we have already had given.

    Pastor Scotty.

I just wanted to thank you for supporting Matthew 25: Ministries with the Haitian relief efforts. We value the support of our local community, especially from our Christian family of churches.

Blessings & Heartfelt Appreciation!

Lori :o)

Haiti

Relief for Haiti

By now most of you have probably heard of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti this week. The destruction that it brought was immense and extensive damage and casualties are expected. We view this as an opportunity to be the church to the people of Haiti and help care for them in their greatest time of need. This Sunday we will be collecting the following items at the Missional Living Table in the lobby and delivering them to Matthew 25 MInistries who are currently preparing relief shipments. 

1. Canned and Non-Perishable Food

2. Personal Care Products

3. Cleaning Products

4. First Aid Supplies

If you'd like to make a financial contribution towards relief efforts we recomend Matthew 25 Ministries (M25M.org) or World Vision (worldvision.com). If you have not heard about the earthquake, here are some pictures of the devastation. WARNING: GRAPHIC http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/earthquake_in_haiti.html

Thinking Before we Speak

James the half brother of Jesus writes in the Bible that the tongue is a small member but boasts of great things.  Recently my friend Amanda copied me on a email that she felt compelled to write after this past Sunday's message @Origins.  I immediately thought of what James tells us in the Bible and what a great reminder I felt her email was that we should Think before we Speak.  I asked her permission to share the email with you as I feel you will all benefit from it as well.

Think before speaking, especially when saying phrases like "that's so retarded/gay."  Everytime I hear people say these things, I wonder if they would say them if someone who had special needs or was gay was in earshot.  If you are now posing that question to yourself and you can honestly say you would not make those comments if those individuals could hear you, then doesn't that tell you something?  

The words retarded and gay in and of themselves are not bad words, but use them or any word in a negative context, and they can become hurtful.  How many words or comments in general come out of our mouths that we wouldn't say if a certain individual or individuals could hear us?  I think our society has made these terms seem ok to say, but at the end of the day, does that make it right?  

I know some of you are saying "people are just too sensitive."  Maybe, even probably, but again, does that make it right?  Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me is one of the biggest lies that children are told.  How many of us are scarred by the context of words spoken to us or about us?   

  

We should strive to speak positively on a daily basis.  In an effort to become more Christ-like, we should live like Jesus is standing next to us always (because He is); therefore, we must choose our words and actions carefully.  How much would we be ashamed for Him to see and hear?  How much happier could we be in our homes and relationships if we made an effort to choose our words more wisely, to focus on the positive rather than negative, to encourage rather than discourage?

Sunday Night Notables

• We had one person accept Jesus as Savior and another person say they would like to know more about accepting Jesus.
• Everyone in the portable church world thinks that their set-up and tear-down teams are the best, but I will tell you right now OURS is the best.....the entire game changes when you are moving equipment out of some cold trailers into a cold theater in Ohio.  All of you are amazing and as a result of your hard work people accept Jesus regularly.
• There were a bunch of guests, I can't tell you how stoked I get to see OCers constantly investing in and inviting their friends.
• I showed one of Stacy and I's favorite clips today from the movie Hitch.
• I got an email tonight from someone who was thanking me for Origins and telling me that they have never felt so welcomed an accepted as they have the past few weeks at Origins.
• The music was slamming as usual, Justin was sporting a new guitar and he was breaking it in nicely doing some major shredding.
• Christmas was amazing but I feel like i am a bit hungover from all of the schedule adjustments.
• I can sense that God has big things in store for 2010, and if today was any indicator of what the entire year is going to be like, I am fastening my seatbelt now.
• On Saturday, January 9th from 10:00am-2pm, we need volunteers who would like to help prepare things for the Peru trip.  If you would like to help please contact Brock Glover at brock@originschurch.tv.
• I was praying tonight for the prayer requests that came in and I am once again reminded of the necessity of Jesus in our lives and the need for His Church to Care with all they have and can do.
• I love Origins and am so grateful for her!