AIDS Ministry and Skeletons in Jesus Family Closet
Here's the sermon link from Sunday.
Do you have anyone in your family or family history who is just embarrassing? Jesus did. Some of us ARE the embarrassing person in our families. The one who moved away. The one who got divorced. The one who went to jail. The one who married a foreigner. Or changed religions. (The list could go on and on.) Jesus has people just like that (and worse) in his family history. Matthew 1 highlights that. And that's goodnews for people like us. It is also the goodnews we share with the world.
A few thoughts.
Morning Worship -
*Thanks to Kentaro and Mark for Bringing the Brass. First Sunday in Advent is always a bit festive with a little brass.
*Thanks to Khun Julai (name changed) for coming and sharing about what God is doing in Sangklaburi on the Thai/Burma border. Unfortunately part of the story was what Satan is doing... wars, persecution, oppression, stigma, telling people they are unworthy of love.... It's good to know God has people there countering all the LIES. Thanks also to Jane for translating.
*the AIDS ministry we support provides meds and community for over 70 individuals with HIV/AIDS. When the fighting broke out two weeks ago on the Thai/Burma border, it was med pick up day. Nobody could pick up their meds. AIDS patients can't go for long without their meds. So our partners entered Burma (during the fighting, with artillery shelling going on all around them) to deliver the medication. Now - THAT is the work of Christ!
Afternoon - (we had our quarterly Church Council meeting)
*Always a pleasure to work with people who love Jesus and think seriously about what we are doing and why we are doing it.
*A couple of tough issues were discussed. Hopefully decisions can be carried forth which will bring God glory. One of the issues was especially hard. I can't give all the details; however, know this. You know it's hard when everyone is in agreement but no one is happy with the resolution. :(. There are times when you have to create boundaries around something for the sake of the whole.
*We're gonna be looking for a few committed people to come on board and really get involved in the coming year. So if you know someone who would make a good church council member (strategic thinker, able to give direction and an ability to get others involved... in addition to Christian maturity and commitment to ICB as a church are the criteria) let us know.
Evening Worship -
*Thanks to K. Julai and K. Jane again in the evening.
*Thanks to Andy, Smitha and Charis for great music even if on one song we didn't have the same words! Oops.
*A few empty seats up front, but we kept adding chairs in the back. What's up with that?! :)
*Love the fellowship after the service and meeting newcomers.
Do you have anyone in your family or family history who is just embarrassing? Jesus did. Some of us ARE the embarrassing person in our families. The one who moved away. The one who got divorced. The one who went to jail. The one who married a foreigner. Or changed religions. (The list could go on and on.) Jesus has people just like that (and worse) in his family history. Matthew 1 highlights that. And that's goodnews for people like us. It is also the goodnews we share with the world.
A few thoughts.
Morning Worship -
*Thanks to Kentaro and Mark for Bringing the Brass. First Sunday in Advent is always a bit festive with a little brass.
*Thanks to Khun Julai (name changed) for coming and sharing about what God is doing in Sangklaburi on the Thai/Burma border. Unfortunately part of the story was what Satan is doing... wars, persecution, oppression, stigma, telling people they are unworthy of love.... It's good to know God has people there countering all the LIES. Thanks also to Jane for translating.
*the AIDS ministry we support provides meds and community for over 70 individuals with HIV/AIDS. When the fighting broke out two weeks ago on the Thai/Burma border, it was med pick up day. Nobody could pick up their meds. AIDS patients can't go for long without their meds. So our partners entered Burma (during the fighting, with artillery shelling going on all around them) to deliver the medication. Now - THAT is the work of Christ!
Afternoon - (we had our quarterly Church Council meeting)
*Always a pleasure to work with people who love Jesus and think seriously about what we are doing and why we are doing it.
*A couple of tough issues were discussed. Hopefully decisions can be carried forth which will bring God glory. One of the issues was especially hard. I can't give all the details; however, know this. You know it's hard when everyone is in agreement but no one is happy with the resolution. :(. There are times when you have to create boundaries around something for the sake of the whole.
*We're gonna be looking for a few committed people to come on board and really get involved in the coming year. So if you know someone who would make a good church council member (strategic thinker, able to give direction and an ability to get others involved... in addition to Christian maturity and commitment to ICB as a church are the criteria) let us know.
Evening Worship -
*Thanks to K. Julai and K. Jane again in the evening.
*Thanks to Andy, Smitha and Charis for great music even if on one song we didn't have the same words! Oops.
*A few empty seats up front, but we kept adding chairs in the back. What's up with that?! :)
*Love the fellowship after the service and meeting newcomers.
