Seth Goldsmith's Blog

Our Adoption Journey (quick excuse)

2012-01-29T05:51:00.001-05:00

Man, I really need to sit down long enough to update you on our Adoption Journey. A lot has happened since my last post. I'll be honest, what happened next in our story was pretty painful. More to come soon!

Our Adoption Story - Part 3 - I thought this would be easier

2011-11-06T20:55:00.002-05:00

Part 1 - 143 Million
Part 2 - 2AM Conversation
Part 3 - I thought this would be easier

After attending the 30 hour MAPP class requirement for prospective adoptive and foster care families, we had our "home study" in hand and ready to welcome a new child into our home. We were told a finalized adoption could take anywhere from a few months to a few years. But we would be different... right?

We scoured the Heart Gallery websites for children that might be a good fit for our family. We spent hours looking into the eyes of beautiful children posted online. We would read and reread the descriptions, trying to guess from cryptic cues, "Is this the one?"

At times it felt like we were bidding on an eBay auction. I struggled with this at first, wishing that there was a better way to find the child/children meant for our family without it seeming like online shopping. In addition to being a pastor, I'm also a website designer. I knew that this method created incredible visibility for children waiting to be discovered by their adoptive family.

Still, we searched and searched. We sent our home study to caseworkers for child after child after child. We began to wonder if we were really needed all that much. I admit, the urgency that flooded my heart in the very beginning of our adoption journey was waning. We may have even been a little discouraged. If there are 143 million orphans in the world, should it really be this complicated to adopt a child who needs a family???

After about 1 year of searching, we stopped.

This was the part of the journey where God was waiting patiently on us. Or was this part of the plan to let the idea of adoption rest and then become renewed with clarity and even greater passion? Christa and I agreed to put our fruitless pursuit of adopting a child from the foster care system on hold for a time.

During this time, the idea of our family adopting a child never left our minds. We continued to pray each evening with our children for the orphans in the world. We even sponsored 1 of them (pat self on back).

A trip to Uganda this past summer surrounded me with orphans and other needy children. With hundreds of children hugging me and tugging on my white skin, my heart was once again crushed for the global needs of children. God made me this way - I think you'll find He made you this way also. In a phone call home, I warned Christa not to be shocked if I bring home 50 or so Ugandan children. She chuckled a "bring it on!" type chuckle. She also knew we could never afford a single international adoption- let along 50.

Soon after arriving back from Uganda, Christa began to grill me about our adoption journey. One late-night conversation, she asked, "So, are we ever going to do this?", "Isn't that up to God?" I said, passing the buck with spiritual prowess. Christa is sweet, but has never struggled with challenging me when she senses I'm missing something.

She thinks silently for another minute or so. Then, breaking the silence, she says, "Well, when you believed that God invited our family to adopt, were you wrong?", "Um...", I said, knowing without a doubt that God still wanted our family to adopt.

The discussion continued, steering in the direction of our frustrations of getting zero traction along our adoption journey thus far. That night, Christa said that she was going to start praying that if God wants us to adopt, He would orchestrate the next chapter of our adoption journey in such a supernatural way that we would know without doubt He was at work.

And so, she prayed...

The Theology of Alcohol in the Bible

2011-10-22T20:42:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, I will teach a sermon entitled, "Sober or Wasted". The sermon will focus primarily on the value of living life in the joy of sobriety instead of under the oppressive influence of drunkenness from alcohol, or high-ness from illegal drugs or illegitimate prescription drugs.

This topic is so important -not because it is a controversial topic that tickles ears, but because if I don't teach about it I'm leaving something out. Not only does the Scripture speak often of alcohol but our families, jobs and our present awareness of God's influence in our lives is influenced in part by how we interact with alcohol.

However, I realize that tomorrow's sermon will bring out all sorts of questions specific to the theology of alcohol which I won't have time to address in my sermon.

For this reason, I will provide a link here to a sermon MP3 I preached a few years ago called "To Drink or Not to Drink". This teaching will explain the no-nonsense Biblical perspective of alcohol consumption. To summarize, the Bible invites us to enjoy alcohol only in responsible moderation. However, abstinence for reasons of weakness, legal ineligibility, or personal choice should be respected. Finally and most assuredly, there is sober hope for the addicted as well as the occasional abuser.

Please listen to the sermon audio and also find the "Alcohol in the Bible" PDF file resource to learn more about this topic.

SERMON Audio - To Drink or Not To Drink: http://www.sebastianchurch.com/listen/2009/9-6-2009_To_Drink_Or_Not_To_Drink.mp3

Alcohol in the Bible Handout: http://www.sebastianchurch.com/listen/2009/9-6-2009_To_Drink_Or_Not_To_Drink.pdf

Take Time for Healing

2011-01-26T13:52:00.001-05:00

The Red Trail on the St. Sebastian Buffer Preserve in Fellsmere

I went for a hike this morning in the St. Sebastian Buffer Preserve. There is something about that place that heals me. I had been listening to my iPod for a few minutes, but allowed myself to be distracted by the birds singing and the frogs croaking (this is Fellsmere after all). After pausing my iPod, I found myself in a moment of renewed perspective. As I looked around I couldn't see any power lines. I couldn't hear any cars whizzing by. Just me and 21 thousand acres of trees blowing gently in the breeze, deer frolicking in the puddles and armadillo rooting for a meal.

I could almost feel that place breathing new life into me as I walked along the trail. It was as though God had brought me out there to pour back into me what had been depleted by my busy schedule, taking myself too seriously and trying to solve problems in my head that weren't even likely to occur in reality.

I must have looked like a happy idiot, smiling widely as I walked along in the middle of the woods. I thanked God for the reminder that I have to take time for healing. I have to leave my routine and abandoned my aggressive to-do and allow God to replenish me from the inside out.

Mailbag: How to deal with X-Wife or X-Husband & Children Betwixt

2010-06-14T12:00:00.002-04:00

When I give advice in areas like these I always like to start with my disclaimer...

I'm a pastor- not a psychologist so my answer will be derived from my experiences as a follower of Christ and from my understanding of the Scripture. I'm also only 30 so if you want sage advice you'll probably be disappointed. I'm just figuring out life along with most of the rest of the people on this planet. Also, this advice is not valid in the state of Oregon. Why? I dunno... I got carried away writing my disclaimer. "Ahem..." The topic at hand:

I grew up in a home where my mom and dad were great examples of a great husband and wife. However, in spite of my parent's picture-perfect marriage, I've noticed a few things about X's while simply existing on this planet for the last 30 years:

The fight over everything
They use children as tools as instruments of their revenge
They sometimes leave really mean voicemail and email messages
They talk about the latest conflict ALL the time
They bicker about parenting strategy- insisting that they're always right
They talk negatively about they're spouses to their children
I could go on forever with this list... Imagine every other nasty thing that's been done by an X and put it here.

So in response here are just my knee-jerk ideas about the topic:

Be the one who behaves like an adult.
Forgive them no matter what they do or say.
Forgive them no matter what they do or say.
Forgive them no matter what they do or say. (got this one?)
Don't talk negatively to the children about their parent. (talk positive where possible)
If you share custody and don't get much time with your child, value the abbreviated time that you have with your children. Clear your schedule and let your schedule revolve around them (for brief visits).
Listen to you children (don't pry) about their feelings about you and your former spouse. Don't interrupt with rebuttals or your defense.
Don't give up. I'm asking you to be positive and honorable-not to play dead. Try to handle disputes peacefully IN PERSON without the court system.
Don't communicate ANYTHING negative via text messaging, email or voicemail. Again, do this in person.
If you're struggling, see a counselor to help in healing from the divorce and coping with life after.I highly recommend CrossLife.
PRAY! Pray for your kids especially when they're not with you
Pray for your former spouse – Don't pray for them to die a horrible death by way of attack aliens or the like. Instead pray for blessing and peace! You may receive exactly what you prayed for them!

You're not perfect. If there is conflict it is very unlikely one-sided:

James 5.16
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Seth Goldsmith is the Lead Pastor at Coastal Community Church in Sebastian, Florida. We meet at the Sebastian River Middle School near the Sebastian River Buffer Preserve.

Mailbag: Why is stuff repeated in Matthew and Mark?

2010-06-09T15:16:00.000-04:00

Not only are Matthew and Mark similar, but they're telling the same story. In fact, all of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are essentially the same story told from multiple perspectives. The goal of the Bible isn't to provide a textbook for humanity so that we can behave. The point of the Bible is, instead, to tell the story of how God lovingly and graciously interacts with humanity.

Specifically we see in the Gospel four distinct perspective of essentially the same events.

Matthew: He was a Jew writing to a Jewish audience presenting Christ as the Messiah of the Old Testament (The first 39 books of the Bible). As a tax collector Matthew was considered one of biggest sinners of his day. He tells the story from the perspective of a Jewish extortionist - a.k.a. tax collector.

Mark: Mark writes for the Roman audience and presents Christ as a servant. He's also a young leader of the early church.

Luke: Luke is the only Gentile (non-Jew) author in the Bible. He writes to an audience of Gentiles. He was highly educated as a physician and is very detailed in his account of Christ's life. If Adrian Monk were to tell the Gospel story, it would look something like Luke.

John: John breaks the mold of the other three Gospel writers and does his own thing. John focuses the picture as he presents Christ as God. In John 20.30.31 the purpose of the book is given: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Hope this helps clarify why the Gospels sometimes read like re-runs. However, they are more like one of those episodes of LOST where the plot takes us back in time to the same event multiple times to draw out different details from multiple perspectives.

If you have any questions, send them to Questions@SebastianChurch.com . If I don't know the answer, I'll be happy to muddy the waters of your brain by responding with my own thoughts or questions about the same topic.

This blog post is the response to an anonymous question sent to Pastor Seth Goldsmith of Coastal Community Church in Sebastian, Florida.

Cinco de Mayo and Hard Rock Music

2010-05-05T15:16:00.001-04:00

Ecclesiastes 4.1
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"

'Tis the season for churros, tacos and habaneros! This is the time of year when every Gringo this side of the border is celebrating everything Mexicana! I need an antacid tablet just thinking about it. Not because of the food but instead because of a sour memory associated with this holiday.
Not long ago, I was a rock star. No, really. We were very popular... in the small towns of Sebastian, Fellsmere and Vero Beach, Florida. Some weeks we played 3 times in one week! Truth be told, you don't have to have an amazing band to get lots of gigs- just play everywhere for free and you'll be playing enough gigs to give you a rock star complex.

We were often invited to play at big events (usually for non-profits and churches), so it wasn't unusual when the president of a ministry helping struggling Mexican family's asked us to play for their Cinco de Mayo celebration.

As any Punk/Hard Rock band, we kicked off the night with some of our crowd pleasers that usually get people pumped. Instead people in cowboy attire just walked by staring at us and probably wondering how those gringos got this gig. During a short intermission, someone brought a CD with mariachi music on it to be played. People began dancing in front of the stage- until we started playing again! By the end of the second set it was beginning to look like a scene out of Blues Brothers. What a disaster!

The problem is that we got so distracted by performing, that we forgot about who was listening.

As Christians we can fall into the same performance complex. We can become so absorbed with performance and measuring up against others that we forget who this life is really lived for.

Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We can either get really busy or rest in Him.

Visit the MySpace for "A Beautiful Irony" that should have been deleted years ago!

Mailbag: I would like to know if you think there is credible evidence that we are living in the last days before the return of Christ.

2010-05-04T17:29:00.002-04:00

First, I don't hold a very popular view of the end times (eschatology) as compared to mainstream Christianity. Very little of the Bible is about communicating to us in code the timing of certain end time events. It seems from the airtime that churches and movie theater's give it, that people like to talk about the end times. As onlookers gawk at a terrible car accident many are fascinated with the destruction of the world as we know it.

God's plan is focused on reconciliation not destruction- on repairing things, not breaking them.

God says he is patient with humanity- waiting for them to come to Him.
2 Peter 3:9 TNIV
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish , but everyone to come to repentance.

He also says that no one knows when he will return.

Matthew 24:36 TNIV
36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Way to dodge the original question right?

I believe we have been living in the last days before the return of Christ since Christ ascended to heaven in the first century. During the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, many first century believers believed Christ would be coming within their lifetime.

When earthquakes regularly make the news and wars are being fought on nearly every continent, many presently among the living believe that Christ will come in their lifetime.

So in waiting we can be sure that we have no idea!

We also can be sure that God has a purpose for us. We're not just aimlessly wandering as many Southern Gospel songs have painted it. Christ isn't leaving us in misery, but has gifted us with his life living in us! He has given us a very present hope and peace.

This mailbag question was submitted anonymously. I responded to many questions during a recent "Mailbag" teaching at Coastal Community Church in Sebastian, Florida.

Our Adoption Journey- Part 2 - 2AM Conversation - Adoption Resources Links

2010-03-09T06:38:00.003-05:00

Part 1 - 143 Million
Part 2 - 2AM Conversation
Part 3 - I thought this would be easier

I arrived home from Catalyst Conference at about 2AM. Christa woke up to greet me and we started talking about the conference. After a a long pause - the kind that might mean she's asleep, or just thinking - I said, "I think God wants us to adopt a child!". She said, "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! Wait... you're talking about those organizations that ask you donate $40/month to help feed a hungry child in some foreign country right?"

The darkness in our bedroom must not have been able to mask my telling expression. She looked at me a few seconds more and said, "Oh! You mean really adopt?!?" Another long pause followed. Then she said, "I'm kinda scared about it, but I think God wants us to adopt too!"

The fact that my wife is so in-tune with God and can read my mind without me stumbling over words makes complete changes in lifestyle much easier! A few days of prayer only confirmed our 2AM feelings were more than the affects of the lack of sleep.

We began gathering all the books our public library had on the topic (which isn't much by the way). We submitted requests for information from lots of adoption agencies including the Department of Children and Family services (DCF). We visited websites like http://www.adoptflorida.org to view pictures of children who
don't have parents and to learn more about the adoption process in Florida.

To Be continued...

For those thinking of adopting, here are a few of the resources that we find helpful to get started:

Florida State Adoption from Foster Care:
http://adoptflorida.org/

Florida Baptist Children's Homes:
http://www.fbchomes.org/

Creating a Family: blog, adoption/infertility podcast resources, infertility counseling
http://www.creatingafamily.org/

Journey to Me: Free webinars, audio library, blog
http://www.journeytome.com/

Adoption.com: Fantastic forum to read about the challenges and victories of foster care and adoption
http://www.adoption.com/

Seth Goldsmith is the lead pastor of Coastal Community Church in Sebastian, Florida.
http://www.SebastianChurch.com
Gathering 10:00AM Sundays at Sebastian River Middle School
PO Box 780918, Sebastian, FL 32978
(772) 202-0121 | seth@SebastianChurch.com

Coastal is going to try out Mobile YouVersion Events during the teaching tomorrow!

2010-02-20T07:19:00.002-05:00

Don't miss the McDonald's Relay for Life Fund Raiser

2010-02-20T06:48:00.001-05:00

Today, 9AMto4PM @ McDonalds in Roseland
Join us for live music, a visit from Ronald McDonald, free fingerprinting and ID Photo courtesy of Sebastian Police Department. 15% of Sales will be donated to RTF teams. We need volunteers to man the booths, clean tables etc. Please contact Lesley McCarty at 772-480-3002 or email lterry777@yahoo.com

Souper Bowl Sunday on Super Bowl Sunday! Bring non-perishable foods to support your team!

2010-02-05T07:50:00.001-05:00

The project is called Souper Bowl. Here’s how it works: A barrel (read: trash cans) will represent each of the two NFL Super Bowl XLIV Teams and be decorated as such. Fans from each team will bring canned or dry food items and deposit them in said "barrels" on SUPER Bowl Sunday, This Sunday! The team with the most items in the barrel wins the "Souper Bowl". Of course, needy people in our neighborhoods will be the real winners! All food from both teams will be donated to The Source, homeless ministry.

Church-wide Fast Day 4 - Are You Ready for What's Next?

2010-01-28T17:01:00.001-05:00

The 24 hour mark is quickly approaching and this fast will be over. What's next? If we did this just for the "holy ghost bumps", we could have quit on the first day. If we did this just to deprive ourselves of something so that we could look holy, feel holy, we've failed already. But if we've done this to make ourselves available for an undistracted divine encounter with Jesus, than there must be some anticipation as to what is next. At 6:00PM on Friday, how will you be different. What is God revealing to you this week? What is next?

Today's verses for meditation:

Acts 4:13 TNIV
"13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

The above verses is one of my favorite passages about ministry. It puts ministry on the bottom shelf for the rest of us. If you're unschooled, and ordinary, God can use you. The religious bigots judging Peter and John were "astonished"! It was clear to them that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 13.1-2 1 The Message

"1 The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers: Barnabas, Simon, nicknamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, Saul. 2 One day as they were worshiping God - they were also fasting as they waited for guidance - the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do." 3 So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off."

Notice that in the above passage that God appeared to the men as they were already worshiping him. They didn't wait for God to call them to something big and then get serious about worship. Instead, while spending time with Jesus in prayer, God spoke to them.

Church-wide Fast Day 3 - Don't Forget Why

2010-01-27T16:54:00.001-05:00

Friday at 6:00PM is only 48 hours away! For those who have pledged to fast the entire 5 days, good for you. Today you're probably noticing some of the hunger pains subside. Now is the time that you will find yourself in a state of quietness, being able to focus on things like never before.

Don't forget the whole point of this fast - Jesus. As the fast is rounding the final bend, dedicate time to listening to Him.

Here are some suggestions to “find time” to unhurriedly seek God throughout the rest of this fast:

Turn off the TV. After the kids go to bed, turn it off and spend some time in prayer. Which of these takes priority in your life: TV or God?
Seek God in the Car. Driving is a great time to be somewhat undistracted. Please keep your eyes OPEN!
Wake up earlier. If you don’t have kids to help you wake you up an hour earlier, set your alarm clock. I know… earth-shaking right?
Stay up later. Depending on your biological clock you should choose one or the other to ensure that you can still get enough sleep.
Replace the time you would be eating, with time to seek God.

What to pray for? Here’s a few things:

Thank Him for everything. This should keep you busy until tomorrow. No seriously, thank Him for all your blessings and even your blessings in disguise. Stressed much? Resting in thanksgiving will do wonders! Psalm 19.23 - "23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble."
Pray for Him to help you hear His voice. And then stay quiet long enough to actually hear. Is there some area of your life in which you need his peace? Seek his help.
Pray for others. Please spend time in prayer for those in Haiti. Pray for the victims and the relief teams alike. You can pray specifically for Missionary Flights International in Fort Pierce, Florida as they deliver resources around the clock.
Pray for your local church. Pray for God to use us to bring faith, hope and love to our community. Ask God how you can be involved in bringing this to past.

Here is a great Scripture passage to meditate on:

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Church-wide Fast Day 2 - Fasting is hard. Did I forget to mention that Sunday?

2010-01-26T17:01:00.000-05:00

Fasting is hard. I think I may have forgotten to mention that Sunday. There is a natural battle within us that is waging. Your body craves things that you have pledged to give up for a time for the sake of focusing on the God who provides all things.

I've read your Facebook and Twitter posts that tell your stories of the temptation that occurs around dinner time each night! We could pretend to be uber-spiritual during our fast and claim victory once and for all over the body's desire for food! Maybe you're so holy that God has removed the human urge to eat. Um... probably not. However, this week we get the unique opportunity to see a picture of how Christ sustains us, though things that are opposed to our relationship with him are still appealing to our flesh.

A long time ago, someone convinced the world at large that being in a relationship with God had something to do with keeping a list of man-made rules. These rules are useful to gain power over the masses. Judge others and claim perfection for yourself and you've got power over everyone less "holy" than you by way of guilt. Somewhere along the way, humanity realized that all these man-made rules were impossibly oppressive and even the religious bigots can't possibly be as holy as they claim. In the midst of that desperation, Christ enters the world to embrace humanity. Though caught red-handed, Christ loves me and you just as we are.

While humanity is constantly focused on how we can improve our "selves" God sent his Son so that you could be liberated from your "selves". He liberate us from trying to make our "selves" behave to embrace His life living through you- Life in the Spirit. This week forever after take your focus off your self and place your focus squarely on Jesus Christ- your life.

Take a few minutes throughout the rest of the day to pray and ask God to realign your focus on Him. Meditating on this passage from Romans should help:

Romans 8.6-7 The Message
6 Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. 7 Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing.

For more, read the entire chapter of Romans 8

You Have What it Takes

2010-01-25T08:35:00.001-05:00

Does God really have something big planned for you? God will use what you have where you are at to accomplish his extraordinary plan. Click here to listen to yesterday's teaching online.

Churh-wide Fasting to Seek God Day 1

2010-01-25T06:58:00.001-05:00

As I'm typing this we're about 30 minutes into the fast. Are you hungry yet? I am!

Take a few minutes this morning to pray and journal about your commitment to fast. Remember this isn't about you, its about seeking God! This isn't a ritual, but a way of making yourself available to God during this time in this way.

Be prepared for the hunger pains to begin as the day progress but by day 3 you will begin to feel great! Your stomach will slow down and you may feel an increase in energy from releasing the toxins and drinking so much healthy juice.

Stay strong and remember you're not alone! God will give you the strength you need to continue the fast. You are also fasting with friends so share your experiences with us via comment below, Facebook or Twitter.

Read and meditate on this Scripture throughout the day today. Spend time simply listening to God. Without meals, you'll have extra time for this!

Isaiah 58.6-12 (The Message)
6 “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. 7 What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.
8 Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. 9 Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places “If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins, 10 If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. 11 I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places – firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. 12 You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.

Churh-wide Fasting to Seek God

2010-01-25T06:26:00.001-05:00

I've invited Coastal Community Church to a church-wide juice fast from 6:00AM January 25 (today) to 6:00PM January 29 (Friday). Joining us in this fast has the potential to change your life. If you're a little scared, there's no pressure, but I do hope that many will allow for fasting to be used as a tool to awaken your passion for and dependence on God. Please read through the practical guide carefully and prayerfully if you have not already. Perhaps if you have health conditions or a very active job, you can fast in other ways. You should ALWAYS check with a doctor if you have any doubts. If you have any practical or spiritual questions, don't hesitate to comment, email or tweet your questions. Also, be sure to join us online here on my blog, Facebook and Twitter. Share your experiences and encourage one another as you experience God's presence in a new way!

Fasting Resources
Download and listen to a teaching on why fasting is important.
Download a practical guide to fasting.

Our Adoption Journey - 143 Million - Part 1

2010-01-23T05:56:00.001-05:00

Part 1 - 143 Million
Part 2 - 2AM Conversation
Part 3 - I thought this would be easier

I was one of those people who believed adoption was for couples with fertility problems. Christa and I could smile at one another and find ourselves in the delivery room 9 months later. We didn't have any trouble making babies (wink).

About 4 months ago God broke my heart for orphan children while at Catalyst Conference. I learned for the first time that there are 143,000,000 orphans in the world. I could barely focus on what the speaker had after hearing that number. How could a worldwide problem be so huge without me knowing about it? Without me becoming consumed with helping any way that I can. I preached many times on the Bible verse that says that true and faultless religion is caring for the needs of orphans and widows but was woefully ignorant of the size of this task.

I listened as Mac Powell, lead singer for Third Day, told the story of how he and his wife had adopted a baby from the foster care system and others told their story of how they had adopted from foreign countries.

I knew that my pastor friend, Erick, who was sitting next to me at the conference, had adopted, so I asked a few questions about his adoption- being careful not to reveal how crushed I was over the orphan crisis.

On the way home from conferences, a little known fact is that pastors act like middle school boy. Perhaps we act this way more often than this. So in between claiming wafting smells and Pastor Erick lifting his shirt for a truck driver who had a "flash me baby" sign taped to his truck, I learned that
Robert, Erick's worship guy had adopted two children also. As I asked stealthy questions, it began to seem like everyone around me was in some way connected with adoption.

My heart grew heavier for orphaned children with every mile of the ride home from Atlanta. As we traveled late into the night I began to wonder what Christa was going to think of all this!

To be continued.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University is Underway

2010-01-21T22:25:00.002-05:00

With a group of 15 adults (and 8 kids in childcare) our first Financial Peace University session has begun. The topic was Super Saving and the emphasis was "baby step 1" which is to create a $1000 emergency fund ASAP.

As we discussed the topic, it seemed that all of us know we should save, that it's good to save and important to preparing for the future but we have failed in translating that simple knowledge into actually saving.

Proverbs 21:20 says that a fool devours all he has.

Looking forward to 12 more weeks of this!

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