I love spending time with my family during the summer, making memories together. Yesterday I was playing Go Fish with my daughter and son, Lilly and Titus. Since it was a modified version of the old game, Lilly called it Extreme Go Fish. Titus had every deck of cards we had for the fish pile, so there were easily 500 cards in the middle. The game went on for at least an hour and a half, and still we weren’t even close to finishing it (it’s still going, by the way, and at this rate may never end).

It reminded me of a few things: first, that we live in a population center with millions of “fish” all around us. Next, it reminded me just how much we can do to demonstrate Jesus’ love to these people. So how will we catch fish?

It is all about being ordinary, having authentic faith and simple courage. Do you have any… fish? No? Then go fish…

$57,000 — the total offering received for sending our young people to Mexico.  I am grateful.  And I am not surprised.  I have come to expect the generosity that so epitomizes our community.  I also know that when God sets a plan in place, he resources it as well.  Thank you for participating.  If you missed the service but still want to provide for this mission, you can give online to the Ensenada Youth Fund.  Now we pray and send 60 intentional servants to Ensenada to make a difference for Jesus.

I am very grateful for the 8 weeks given me to complete my dissertation.  The clock starts this Monday, June 16, and I ask for your prayers to remain focused and to be able to complete this task.  For those of you who want to know more, I am writing a historical study on the background of the New Testament book of Jude. My specific thesis shows the connections between Jewish Apocalypticism, early Christianity and Gnosticism through what Jude writes in his short letter… alright, now wake up…

You can continue to read the blog while I am gone during the summer.  I still want you to be encouraged and updated as we journey together, so Josh Conn will writing a few entries until I return.  This weekend we kick off a new series:  “Witness - It doesn’t take a superhero.”  Good stuff.  Come and be challenged!

I know I say this often, but I am pretty pumped about this weekend’s service.  And if you like interaction, then you will definitely enjoy it.  Join us as we worship with a new band and be ready to get out of your seats for more than just the music!

I believe that all of you have been praying about your portion of the financial gift we will be raising this weekend to enable our high school and college teams to minister in Mexico. I could not be more excited about this — do you realize that if everyone who comes were to give $50, we would go well over our $60,000 goal? Please seek God’s wisdom on this before you come.

This Sunday at 1:30pm we will have the first 50+ Club meeting in the chapel (youth room). As I mentioned last weekend, we will be talking about how to embrace our best years that still lie ahead. This is so important for our community, because of all age groups, this one is best able to set the standard that helps the following generation in whatever way we can.

See you on the weekend!