If you haven’t connected with a small group yet . . . you are missing out! This year we have moved all of our small groups to homes and they are awesome! We have great leaders that would love to get to know you and encourage you. We are only halfway through the year so its not to late to get connected. They will start again Wednesday January 7th 2009. Click here for more info. Check out the video to see what has happened so far . . .
Author: dgould77
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2008 Rewind – Wild Week
What a great week, the beach, Lambert’s, the ocean (with jelly fish . . . boooo) sand volleyball, condos, awesome worship, Ken Freeman, Kacy Benson, Nick Thurmond, Baptisms in the Ocean, and a 13 hour bus ride. Wild Week 08 at Orange Beach has to be one of the best camp experiences I have ever had. Our group grew closer to God and each other. God did awesome things in each persons life that week. If you did get to go to Wild Week last year, make plans to go this year when we invade camp wow in Oklahoma for Wild Week 09 July 7th-11th. For more info click here!
Here’s a video of some snap shots from last years experience!
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Acts 8:26-40
“As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go south[b] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.’” v. 26-29 (NLT)
Two different times with two different assignments Phillip was told to go and do something for the Lord. Because of his obedience, we see that God used Phillip in a big way to explain the Gospel to an Ethiopian Eunuch, who in return, would be taking the Gospel to Ethiopia. The thing I notice is that Phillip didn’t hesitate, he didn’t question if that is what God really said or really wanted him to do, he didn’t say I’ll get to that right after I am done with this, no, when God spoke, he listened and obeyed! He went where the Lord sent!
Have you ever heard or felt the Lord telling you to go somewhere or do something? How did you respond? Did you listen and go like Phillip or did you question and wait, or maybe even ignore feeling inadequate or scared. As we begin 2009, lets listen to Gods voice and go wherever He leads! It could be a radical adventure that we never expected!
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Weekend Review – 2008
What a year! Wild Week, Student Life, Mexico Mission Trip, Planet Wisdom, B2S Bash, B2S Retreat, and this is just the big events. 2008 was an awesome year for Fusion! God did an amazing work in each of us. Some came to know Him as their Lord and Savior, while others made new commitments to Him, but all of us were challenged with the reality of the Gospel! This last weekend we highlighted 6 areas from out ministry and heard stories from students and watched videos of what took place at these events. It was so good hearing each student share what they liked about the event, what God taught them or is teaching them, and how they encouraged others to get involved. We have some very cool things in store for 2009. I cant wait to see what God does and how He shapes us to be more like Christ.
Here are the 6 things we highlighted today.
2008 REWIND
1. Random Events!
Dates for 2009 – http://www.gracefusion.com
Cost: $5-$202. Retreats!
Dates for 2009 – February
Cost: $120 if registered on time3. Wild Week!
Dates for 2009 – July 7th-11th
Cost: $315 if registered on time4. Mexico Mission Trip!
Dates for 2009 – June 13th-20th
Cost: $400.00 if registered on time5. Small Groups!
Dates for 2009 – January 7th-May 27th
Cost: FREE6. Baptisms!
Dates for 2009 – Anytime
Cost: FREEI will be posting a different video each day over the next 5 days so check back to watch the videos from each highlighted event. I’ll start today with a baptism video. This didn’t capture all of the baptisms but here are a few from this past year.
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Christmas Eve at Grace
As Christmas winds down, the kids are sleeping and it’s the first time I have had a chance to write in the last 48 hours. Christmas is always a busy time for us, but this year, adding 5 days of rehearsals because I was asked to play Joseph for the Nativity at Grace Community Church and then 8 hours on Christmas Eve, with 3 services, made it even busier. However, this Christmas will definitely be one I will never forget! It truly was humbling to play the role of Joseph, and really brought a different perspective to Christmas for me this year. Even though the rehearsals seemed long, and I tended to get in trouble, or be a distraction, and I had to grow the beard and hair out, I had a great time. I pray that God was able to use it to bless all that attended the services on Christmas Eve! Here are some pics from the 6:00 service
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Lessons for a 4 year old: Stealing is Wrong
Today, we took Jackson to get some test run and while we were there Josiah played with the toys in the waiting room like always. No big deal right! Well when we got home I happened to notice that Josiah had a car from the doctors office. When I saw the car I asked him how it got home with us? He said, “I put it in my pocket because I wanted it.” As I looked at him, I was saddened that he would do this, but knew it was a teaching moment. We talked through why it was wrong for him to take the car and how we needed to take the car back after Christmas. I know there will need to be some follow up conversations because after he figured out we weren’t taking the car back until after Christmas his next question was, “well can I play with it until we give it back?”
Being a Dad is a big responsibility. As our boys grow up it is going to cause us to really watch how we raise them by what we model, and teach with our actions and words. I don’t believe Josiah thought anything was wrong with him taking the car, but the lesson is one that I would rather teach earlier than later.
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Acts 8:1-25
“But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.” v. 4 (NLT)
After the stoning of Steven, Saul who agreed with Stephens stoning went from house to house putting Christ Followers in jail. This caused the early church to spread out into other areas of that region because of persecution. People were leaving Jerusalem and moving to other towns for safety. Thus again fulfilling what Jesus said,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
Even though the early church was scattering because of persecution it didn’t stop the early believers from sharing the Good News. Because of their commitment and boldness, the church kept growing. People were turning from their sin and coming into a relationship with God. God was using ordinary people to bring the extraordinary message of Christ to others and He desires to use you and I in the same ways.
The Real Question for us Today is: Are we, you and I, willing to tell others about Jesus wherever we go? Why or why not?
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Friday Frenzy
After a rough start we ended up having a great day yesterday as a family. We took Jackson to an allergist to rule out or find out if he was allergic to anything that could be causing him to have pneumonia so often. If you have never taken your child to an allergist be thankful, after the pokes were finally done he did ok! We found out the he has no allergies but the things that were high were dogs and cats. We have both! The doctor said we didn’t have to get rid of them though, that was was good news.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with lunch, a little shopping (very little praise Jesus), a haircut for Stephanie (is that what women call it) and then off to see Santa.
I have to say, the Village at Allen has the best place for Santa, filled with, real reindeer, elves and a large fake Christmas tree! There are several place to take other photos also. Next year we will go here to take Christmas Card pics unless we use the tree at Grace. Lucky for us it was in the 70’s yesterday so it was perfect to be outside and wait in line to have pictures taken with the Jolly old Man. If we were to do it again, we would go a night so you don’t see the cars in the background through the fireplace. You probably don’t notice it but that what happens when you have a perfectionist mentality! We ended the day at Pete Pipers Pizza, which is like Chuck E Cheese and got home to open a package full of Christmas Gifts for the boys from my MOM, Grandma Sheila!
We are getting ready for Christmas, family coming in, and Christmas less than a week away. I have been asked to be Joseph for the Nativity this year so I have been growing out the facial hair, (I hate it). I have my first rehearsal today at 1pm. Hate the beard but excited to do it!
Here are some pics from our adventures.
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A Sad Celebration
Today was Josiah’s Christmas Party at Grace. This year has been a hard year for him given all the things that have been happening around him. The party was filled with Cake, juice, presents and parents. The kids had such a good time. Afterward, Mrs. Janet passed out gifts, I expected a little gift but Josiah walked away with a little Bible, a transformer, and a snow globe Manger. Mrs. Janet and Mrs. Erin really went out of their way to make this party special for each kid. Thank you so much!!!!
However, today marked the last day that Josiah will have Mrs. Janet as his teacher. He has taken it really well so far, and even though she was dying on the inside she held her composure today. It had to be hard for her because her love for these kids oozes out of her. As a parent, I have seen Josiah learn so much just from Mrs. Janet’s way of teaching, especially the Bible Stories! The next teacher has some big shoes to fill. Mrs. Janet will be greatly missed!
Thank you Mrs. Janet for your faithful service to Grace Community Church and the “Funky Frogs”!!!
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Acts 7
“You stubborn people! You are heathen[l] at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.[m] 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.[n]
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.” v. 51-60 (NLT)
Have you ever had to take a stand for Christ where you didn’t know the outcome would be? In America, we don’t know what it is like to fear loosing our life because we are Christians. We think we experience extreme persecution when someone rejects us or mocks us for Christ. While in other parts of our world people die because of the name of Christ. Stephen is the first Christian who is killed for his faith. He didn’t hold back and shared the truth with boldness, regardless of the outcome.
What would it look like if we had boldness like Stephen taking a stand for Christ no matter the cost? What does that look like for us in the workplace, at school, in our neighborhood. We may never have a life or death situation, but everyday we have an opportunity to represent Christ to those around us. When those moment arise may we step out in faith and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide our word and actions.
