I will update twitter & facebook as it is possible. Thanks for checking in here and stay tuned for the full report.

Grace & peace to you all!

We are basically killing time with coffee and social media until 5:00 am, when we can “officially” enter the terminal that our African flight leaves from.  We should be leaving around 7:30 am Wednesday, June 15 (that will be 11:30 pm previous day for EST).  The flight should take 3-4 hours until we land in East Africa.

Thanks to all who are praying and messaging.  The team is in good spirits and traveling well.  More to come later as I get wifi access.

Peace and Grace to you all.

This is a test to see if i can blog from the WordPress app on my ipod touch.

Peace!

Got this from Kristi Hunter, Outreach Director, at Cedar Creek Church today:

Just wanted to share how Cedar Creek Church is Being the Church and, in turn, showing the Love of Jesus in practical ways in our community and around the world.  In just the past 2 weeks you have:

Collected over 1375 Operation Christmas Child boxes

Sponsored children for Christmas at Christ Central New Ellenton and Our Lady of the Valley-a total of 318 gifts so far…

Collected food for Thanksgiving boxes for Christ Central New Ellenton and Hope Ministries of the Valley, most of which goes to seniors – the totals are flour -27 bags, dressing mix-46, evaporated milk-52 cans, sugar-31 bags, brown sugar-30 bags, cranberry sauce-40 cans, macaroni-65 boxes, cake mix-47 boxes, frosting-43 cans, plus green beans, yams, chicken broth rice, etc. This is food that doesn’t have to come out of these ministries’ budgets!

You have made my Monday, probably God’s tooJ And I’m sure the impact on the folks that will receive these blessings will be unknown to us this side of heaven, but I do want you all to know that you are appreciated. Please let your folks know what a great impact they are having and continue to have for the Kingdom.

Kristi Hunter
Outreach Coordinator

MITM is something that we love at Cedar Creek Church.  Not the game of keepaway that kids play by throwing a ball to each other while one in the middle tries to catch the ball and cause the thrower to have to be the “monkey.”  No our MITM is, basically, when someone needs prayer and their HOME group or any group of folks (ex. fellow team members) put the person in a chair and circle up around the person for prayer.  While the concept is not unique or original to us, I’m not quite sure how the “MITM” name got attached to a “circle prayer.”  I credit Phillip & Terry Lee for coining the phrase since it was at their house that I first experienced it several years ago.

Sunday at church I ran into a friend, one of our media ninjas, who had recently been sick.  I asked him how he was and he said he was feeling better but having a problem with an abscess that required surgery this coming Thursday. 

Enter…Jared’s HOME group and a little “monkey in the middle.”

Sunday night two of our  HOME groups got together for a “reunion” of sorts, both having multiplied from one group a few months back, and celebrated all that God was doing in them and through them.  They were celebrating how God has grown their group from six people, less than two years ago, to over 30 people in two groups!  More folks being welcomed, cared for, loved, discipled, and more folks growing in their relationship with Jesus and each other.  Booyah!

During their prayer time Sunday night the group put Jared in the middle and laid hands on him, prayed for him and asked God to heal him.  Monday morning when Jared woke up the abscess was all but gone.  Prayer answered.  Surgery cancelled.  God is great!  Double Booyah!!

I must tell you that while my first reaction upon hearing this news was praise to our Lord and excitement, there was a part of me that was…surprised.  The thought shocked me and I asked myself, “why does this surprise you?  Isn’t this what God has always done?”

This morning while reading in Acts 3:1-16 I was reminded of when God, through the Apostle Peter, healed a lame beggar.  All those who saw the man were “filled with wonder and amazement” the Bible says.  Peter’s response encouraged me and challenged me.  Peter said to those onlookers, ““Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (v. 12).  Then in verse 16 he explains, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”

God is still in the healing business.  God still answers prayer even though sometimes it’s not HOW we would expect.  God tells us throughout the Bible to come before Him in prayer, to ask for the desires of our heart, to trust and believe that God will act, to pray for each other that we might be healed, to come BOLDLY before the throne.

Time and again, throughout my life, I’ve seen God show up and do what only He can do.  Too many times we are surprised and astonished when God does show up.

Who do you know that could use a little “Monkey In The Middle” this week?

“All gave some.  Some gave all.” – unknown

A heartfelt “thank you” to all of those who have served this great nation of ours, and to their families.

]]> http://wesholbrook.com/2010/11/sacrifices/feed/ 0 http://wesholbrook.com/2010/11/pack-that-thing-up/ http://wesholbrook.com/2010/11/pack-that-thing-up/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:23:24 +0000 admin http://wesholbrook.com/?p=587

“The power of a simple gift.”  That is the truth about Operation Christmas Child.  You never know what God is going to do when you pack a shoebox full of simple, practical gifts and send them across the world.  The past few weeks we have been talking about this year’s Operation Christmas Child outreach event.  Every year at Cedar Creek Church we participate in this outreach of Samaritan’s Purse because it is a great, effective, simple way to show the love of Jesus Christ to kids all around the world, in places we’ll probably never get to go to ourselves.

This year our Senior Pastor Phillip Lee has challenged us as a church to shoot for a goal of two boxes per family.  I believe this is absolutely a “can-do” situation because I’ve seen the people of Cedar Creek go above and beyond, time and again.  Last year’s goal was blown out of the water and I believe that this year will be no different.

This coming Sunday, November 15, will be our “collection day” of shoeboxes at ALL campuses.  As a helpful guide our Kidz Creek folks have put together a great “step by step” plan for families and folks to consider how they will plan, pray and participate in this great outreach.  If you would like more information about the “how to” of Operation Christmas Child click here.  If you would like to know more about Samaritan’s Purse and their vision and mission check this out.

Let’s pack those shoeboxes and pack the house with them this Sunday!

Our Vision Statement

Cedar Creek Church exists to REACH the unbeliever, to CONNECT them with other Christians in a HOME group so they can GROW in their faith, DISCOVER their ministry and HONOR God with their life.

Our Core Values

* Cedar Creek Church exists to reach the next un-churched person.

* We don’t expect non-believers to act like believers until they become believers.

* Once you become a part of Cedar Creek Church, it is no longer ABOUT YOU!

* We are called to love God and people.

* We are called to have a passion for community.

* Everybody needs to be in community!

* Every ministry at Cedar Creek exists to help connect people to a group.

Truths We Live By

* People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

* No discipleship occurs outside the context of relationships therefore, to make disciples, you must do life together!

* Bible study without application is just information.

* Bible study in community is transformation!

* We measure success by CHANGED LIVES!

Which of these speaks most to you?

Which do you struggle with?

In that culture a tax collector was a lot different from our typical IRS agent today.  These guys were bad dudes.  They collected taxes that ultimately would go to fund armies and people whose goal it was to kill and control anyone that opposed the Roman government.  They cheated and stole from people, making themselves rich in the process.

As I read this passage again this morning I was reminded in verse 10 why Jesus did everything that He did.  Jesus says this, v10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (NLT)

If we desire to be more like Jesus we MUST be intentional about having friends who are not Christ followers.  We must look for opportunities to hang out with people who don’t believe what we believe. We must genuinely love what and who Jesus loves.  Lost people.

I read a statistic not long ago that said most people after becoming a follower of Jesus, within six months, end up isolating themselves from non-Christians.  Their circle of friends and activities revolve around “church” activities and folks and they lose their connection and opportunity to share life with others.

As a church seeking to reach the unchurched each and every person at Cedar Creek MUST look for opportunities (like Jesus did) to be in community with others outside the church.  At the ball field, dance studio, golf course, sports bar, Zumba class or any other place you might hang out.

Jesus extends grace to Zacchaeus and truly wants to get to know him.  Because of this grace, an undeserved encounter with the Lord, Zacchaeus’ heart was changed.

Same for us.  Christ offers grace freely to us.  We can accept or decline.  When we accept, we then MUST extend that grace to those around us.

Who are you intentionally “doing life” with that doesn’t know Jesus?

Who do you need to show grace today?

Just a reminder that election day is tomorrow.  Go vote or shut up.