Give Time to what you Value

Do you and I really put priority to what we "say" we value? I think we can be guilty of this in many areas - our families, our beliefs, our actions, and also in the church world.

I was challenged by reading something in a book called "Jim and Casper Go to Church" - where a Christian hired an atheist to travel and document experiences at churches around the country. I have only read portions of this book, but in the end, Casper (the atheist) asked a very compelling question - "Jim, is this what Jesus told you guys to do?" His point was that when they visited churches - the "stage time" was given to the preaching, singing, offering, etc. Jim shares in the book that there are many other things that are going on "behind the scenes" but they are not talked about or shared - this challenged me - and especially if we say we "value" certain things - then we must give priority and time to them.

At Vinings Lake, one of our "core values" is Celebration. We came to a close to our first semester of Community Groups and yesterday Brian (our associate and Community Groups Pastor) shared a summary and celebrated this first semester. We also showed a video testimony of a couple in our church that has become more connected and has experienced growth through being involved in a Community Group. We also talked about some specific things that took place during the "community outreach" events that some of the Groups were involved in during their semester. Here are a few to highlight:

• One Group had a block party this weekend - about 60 people (lots of young couples and kids!) in their neighborhood came out for games, food, and a time to hang out. - we celebrate that!
• Another Group handed out bottles of water on the Silver Comet Trail with invitations to VL - someone who recieved one came yesterday! - we celebrate that!
• Another Group ministered to a nursing home. - we celebrate that!
• Another Group ministered to some High School kids at a foster care center in the community. - we celebrate that!

I think possibly - the most exciting thing to me as the pastor - about these events is this fact: The Church is truly BEING the Church! The Church is DOING what Jesus told us to do until He returns - according to Matthew 28:16-20.