Resources to Help "The Least of These"

Here are two versions of the same document. The Word (.doc) document has hyper links included so you can go directly to the website from it simply by selecting the link. Click here for the Word Doc.

Click here for the PDF version.

Updated Outline for Sunday, May 31st

The Lord has been stirring so much in my heart and mind as I prepare each week for the "On Mission" series that I have not been able to produce an outline by the time the bulletin is printed that settles all the truths and ideas. 

So, this week there is another updated outline for the message. Click here to download the PDF.

Music About Seeing People as Jesus Sees People

Below you will find two songs that go well with today's message about seeing people through HIS eyes:

Here is the iTunes audio track of Nichole Nordeman's song Please Come.

Here is the YouTube video of Brandon Heath's song Give Me Your Eyes. 

New & Improved Outline

The outline with blanks in the bulletin today at Calvary Community Church is not be the right one. God, me, and the text were not completely in sync when it had to be submitted. While similar to the one I will be using, that original bulletin version is not the best way to communicate the message for today. I am excited about what God has been shaping in my heart and mind and I am looking forward to what He is about to do through it tomorrow!

New outline in JPG form is right here on this posting and new PDF versions are available below: 

Click here to download the new version with blanks to fill in.

Click here to download the new version without blanks.

Video: Friend of the Poor

Throughout the week I have been Tweeting a number of statistics about the people of the world and the people of the greater Westlake area. You have been able to see these stats here on my blog as my last 5 Tweets appear here.

But today, no stats. Look at some of the people, their faces with this video.

Being on Mission 24/7 - All the Time; Everywhere

Below is the list of ideas on the back of my outline in the bulletin for Sunday, May 17th. Pastor Kirk Dewitt of Calvary's Community/World Ministry put these together for me. Checkout some of the other ways his team can help you serve people who need to see Jesus:http://www.mission-central.com 

Serve weekend is coming up June 6th and 7th. Checkout http://www.actionvc.org & http://www.lovepiru.com 

Here is a link to Pastor Drew Sams' Blog about Serve Saturdays: http://drewsams.com/?p=398 

Here is a good blog posting that gives some other practical ways to be "On Mission" all the time, everywhere: http://theresurgence.com/Dodson_Simplified_Missional_Living 

God wants to use us to transform the city of Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Augora, Moorpark, Simi Valley, etc. He plans to use us to transform the Greater Conejo Valley as we live and love like Jesus! I am so excited about what God will do with us if we are "On Mission." This song captures it (it is the song that we conclude my message with May 17th): God of the City

Check these resources out and add some ideas of your own in the comment section of this posting. Let's help each other live and love like Jesus!

The list from the back of my outline:

Easy ways to reach out and serve others in Jesus’ Name       

§  visit someone who can’t get out due to age or illness

§  bring someone dinner or groceries

§  mow someone’s lawn

§  give someone a ride to the doctor

§  clean windows to brighten someone’s outlook

§  get to know a new neighbor

§  walk someone’s dog

§  wash a car or wash a lot of cars

§  take care of doggie yard clean-up for a neighbor

§  stay late at work to help a co-worker

§  plant a garden or flowers for an elderly neighbor

§  give away a good parking spot

§  get to know people when you’re stuck somewhere

§  send a care package

§  pay for somebody’s lunch

§  bring Starbucks to your neighbors on Saturday

§  babysit for a neighbor

§  throw a block party

§  take your kids to visit a senior center

§  tutor someone

§  help someone move

§  get a dumpster for your whole street to use

§  pray for the specific needs of your co-workers

§  listen to someone share their life and heart

§  volunteer at a local social service agency

§  have a free garage sale

§  find a project for your group or family at www.actionvc.org

Why I Tweet (or Twitter)!

In today's world we connect with people through instant, brief bursts of interpersonal communications through technology that creates a social platform never before expereienced in human history. We use phones we carry with us, text messages to those phones, post status updates to our friends on Facebook or MySpace, and let our followers know what we are doing right now on Twitter.

While these means of communication should and could never replace authentic interpersonal relationship interaction, they do allow more of it with greater frequency. There are strengths and weaknesses to that reality. 

Even how people are shepherded into new movements by influencers of business, culture, religion, technology, education, the arts, etc. has dramatically been altered with the explosion of social media. Now anyone, anywhere can more easily than ever before form their own tribe of followers. That can be a good thing or a bad thing - it all depends on the purpose of the movement and the character of the leader.

I have discovered how valuable Social Media can be in saying to others "follow me as I follow Jesus." Movement is released and a tribe is formed.

The clip below from author Seth Godin is a great 17 minute glimpse at some of the concepts of being a leader today of a movement that forms a tribe. Enjoy!

Pastor Dongo from Uganda

Each of our services on Sunday, May 3rd concluded with prayer from Pastor Bethuel Dongo from the "God Cares School" in Uganda. This week I spent an hour getting to know Pastor Dongo and hearing his heart for our Lord and his vision for helping the hurting kids of his nation. Click here for his Ministry Website

Calvary participates in Child Sponsorship through the U.S. Ministry (Buyamba) coordinating the efforts in Uganda to aid the children Pastor Dongo and his team are reaching. Check out their sponsorship program: Click Here for Sponsorship Information 

We thank God for this great partnership with Pastor Dongo and the ministry God has given him. Please pray for all the children and the workers who seek to help them. May these children see and hear Jesus from God's servants who share with them that He cares!

Below is a inspirational clip from their website that gives the vision for the ministry among the children in Uganda:

God Cares School from Tyler Rumph on Vimeo.

Cured of a Problem

While studying for Sunday messages, I often come across quotes and illustrations that don't make it into my message for one reason or another, but are worth sharing. Here is one:

Cured of a Problem

A man entered a bar, bought a glass of beer and then immediately threw it into the bartender’s face. Quickly grabbing a napkin, he helped the bartender dry his face while he apologized with great remorse. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I have this compulsion to do this. I fight it, but I don’t know what to do about it.” “You had better do something about your problem,” the bartender replied. “You can be sure I’ll remember you and will never serve you another drink until you get help.”

It was months before the man faced the bartender again. When he asked for a beer, the bartender refused. Then the man explained that he had been seeing a psychiatrist and that his problem was solved. Convinced it was now okay to serve him, the bartender poured him a drink. The man took the glass and splashed the beer into the barkeeper’s astonished face. “I thought you were cured,” the shocked bartender screamed. “I am,” said the man. “I still do it, but I don’t feel guilty about it anymore.”

Unfinished Business, Charles Sell, Multnomah, 1989, p. 223