Can it Be?

Justin Taylor posted the background and Scriptural allusions for Charles Wesley's "And Can it Be". It's my favorite hymn that I think every believer should know and sing. It's a beautiful arrangement of the Gospel. Check it out.

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray

I woke; the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

Risky Church

There are many churches in St. Augustine and thousands of churches in cities all over our nation. If there are already so many churches, then why plant a new church? Why leave the comforts of an established, healthy church? Justin Buzzard wrote a top ten list of reasons to join a church plant. In the message Sunday, Greg made a distinction between people who are involved in the early days of a church verses those involved in an established church - pioneers and settlers. Both types of people are needed at different stages in the life of a church. Who's a pioneer? Who's a settler?

There are plenty of opportunities to be involved in healthy churches and to serve in God glorifying ways. When your church plants a new location/church in your city or nearby community, should you pack your church bags and get involved?

Reason number one to get involved:
1. If you want to see Jesus do something new and are sick of the status quo.

The goal of church planting is not to create a place for church hoppers or people looking for the next best Sunday morning entertainment. The goal of planting a new church is to see people experience Christ for the the first time and live in light of God's transforming grace. When someone feels the futility of life without God, knows his guilt before God, and believes that God's promises of joy are true, worship happens.

I don't want expected "church stuff" to happen. God created the universe by the power of His Word. I believe Him to do amazing things through His people. I'm excited to see God display His grace and power through the work at Parkview St. Augustine. If you're tired of the status quo and desire to see Jesus do something new, get involved at Parkview.

Headed to Uganda

In less than a month, Karen is traveling to Uganda. It's amazing the things she's done in the past two years. In light of our move to Florida and raising four children, Karen has continually had orphan care as a priority in her life. Last year she spoke at Together for Adoption and has cultivated ways to make orphan care a priority for the church. Her upcoming trip to Uganda will be a strategic trip to forge new relationships with a ministry that meets many needs for children: food, clothing, education, love, and care.
Karen's wisdom and training sets her apart from others. It's not everyday you find a woman who loves Jesus and is highly trained as a psychologist to meet people in desperate crisis with wise counsel. You can check out some of the details about her trip in an excerpt below. It's from her website that she and her friend, Emily have set up to raise funds for their trip.

In July, Drs. Karen and Emily (Clinical Psychologists) will be traveling to a Christian-based, non-profit organization located in Jinga, Uganda. We will be providing developmental, crisis, and grief & loss training to the staff and mentors of this non-profit organization. We will also be providing psychological aid to the children in this village, many of whom are orphaned, and most of whom have been exposed to extreme poverty and the traumatic situations that can arise from such conditions. We will also be involved in community outreach and discipleship with the people of this community. We are so excited to work with the people in Jinga and cannot wait to see what God will accomplish while we are there! Both Emily and Karen have a heart for advancing the Kingdom of Christ. 

Visit the link and help send Karen & Emily to Uganda.