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Dear Friends,

I am very excited to see you all this weekend at Christ Church. I have had the vacation and study break I have needed. Fran and I are still in boxes and we have a long way to go before we are finally “relocated”, but it is time to be back.

As I have studied over these past few weeks, I keep finding the amazing Gospel of Grace popping up everywhere. It is certainly there in the text of the Gospels, but it also speaks to everyone who hears it. Remember, the Gospel of Grace tells us that God is on a mission to search and rescue us. That is, to find, rescue and redeem us to a new life with Him. Here is an example:

A few days ago I had the telephone/internet company come to install new equipment at our new address. A fellow named Pete showed up with his white van filled with the lines and cables and drills he needed. I was in the garage trying to prepare for the onslaught of boxes that was to come, so we got to talking.

Pete:  “So what do you do for a living?”
Me:    “I’m the pastor of a church in Plano.”
Pete:    “I’m through with God…I have been for years!”
Me:      “I’ve met some other people who feel that way, too. What’s your story?”

Pete told me about a wife who took up with a boyfriend, an ugly divorce, a broken heart, and seven years of bitterness that followed.

Me:    “I don’t know, Pete. My thought is that you may need God a lot more than that anger you are still holding on to. God knows what you’ve been through.  Jesus was betrayed…and at the end of it all, it was all redeemed!”
Pete:    “Maybe so…but I don’t know what God would say if He saw me coming back into His church.”
Me:    “I think He’d say, “Welcome home!”

Pete thought about it for a few more minutes and then said: “Do you have any pretty women at that church?”
Me:    “We sure do…but you’re going have to come on Sunday if you want to meet any of them. They can tell you their own story, too.”

I told him about the service times, the location, and the type of service I thought he’d like. This is an example of God’s love knocking on the door of a person’s heart. I hope Pete opens the door.

Now, here are a few things you need to know this week:

575 and Counting

I continue to hear reports of incredible generosity at Christ Church. As a church family, you contributed 575 backpacks through the Kids in Need summer project for local children, and they are still coming in! Also, our outreach staff and volunteers tell me that the lunch outings at Boyd Elementary in Allen we an incredible blessing…both to the servers and the 60 or so recipients. At least three people called my office over the past week to say thanks to Christ Church for this ministry. In turn, I thank you for taking seriously Jesus’ command to serve your neighbors. Here is a photo from the Boyd project:

Local kids lining up for lunch and fellowship last week.

Back to the Holy Land

Fran and I are excited to be leading another trip to the Holy Land. Next year’s trip will be from January 30 – February 8, 2012. We are going with a new touring company that is able to make the trip work for us at a very reasonable price. The conditions appear good in that part of the world, so if you have ever wanted to go, now is the time. It will be the trip of a lifetime. (There is a possible extension to Athens and Corinth at the end of this tour.) Plan now to attend one of two information meetings: either August 17 or September 1, at 7 p.m. in Room 200 of the Adult Education Building. No registration is necessary for the meetings. For more information contact Cathy Carey in my office.

So, I will see you all this weekend. Until then, many thanks to you and to God for your commitment and support of Christ Church.

David+