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Dear friends,
Last year we learned what it means to be on a journey. In the first-half of last year, we explored the journey of faith that Abram began thousands of years ago; an old story that is a deep source of nourishment for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Then, at the end of last year, we studied what it means to follow Jesus on his journey, to live out his teachings through our everyday walk of faith.
We also spent time last year exploring our church’s values, hopes, and dreams, through a series of prayer meetings, brainstorming sessions, and visits to other churches, nonprofits, and businesses. Through these Mission Team travels, we explored what different forms of Christian mission could look like today.
Last January, our church to a leap of faith to start our own little food pantry right here in the heat of Oceanside, called Sarah’s Hope.
Your support of this program has been incredible! Many of you stepped up, giving your time and money to help launch this important program to feed hungry families in our neighborhood. As a result, 9 months later, we are feeding between 100 and 150 people every week with non-perishable groceries, fresh produce and baked goods, thanks to God’s grace, your selfless service, and our partnerships with Feeding America San Diego and Gelson’s Market.
Dear friends,
I’ve always loved road trips.
Early morning departures when the sky is still dark. Powdered Donettes, Nacho Doritos, and gas station coffee. Long stretches of the California desert, painted by the sunrise, scrolling past my window.
But the best part are the roadside attractions. Pop-up shops selling beads and moccasins. Burned-out husks of by-gone watering holes. Baker, California and the World’s Tallest Thermometer. Alien Beef Jerky.
Sometimes those stops-along-the-way are just what the doctor ordered. A chance to re-fuel, shake off the dust, and wake-up a bit from your road-slumber. Other times, especially at the end of a long trip, the compulsive stopping-and-starting become roadside distractions, a symptom of the weariness of travel that can actually drag out your trip far longer than necessary.
Hello friends,
If you like to read as much as I do, you’re probably always on the lookout good reading lists. Below are a few of my recommendations. Some are easier, some are harder. Feel free to pick and choose according to your interests. And if you do read any of these books, don’t forget to tell me your thoughts!
In December I wrote that with Advent we had begun the Christian New Year. Since then, we have experienced the power and drama of the gospel story through our celebrations of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and finally Pentecost – the birth of the church.
That is precisely what we are experiencing at First Christian Church: a kind of new birth.
I’ve officially been the Senior Pastor at First Christian Church for five months now and it has been a wonderful privilege!
So far, we have experienced Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter as a community of faith. Alongside these celebrations, we’ve journeyed together through a season of searching; asking God to reveal His plans for the future of FCC. That journey has followed the themes of the calendar: anticipation (Advent), joy (Christmas), seeking(Epiphany), preparation (Lent), and death and resurrection (Easter).
There’s only one more celebration left this year: Pentecost, the birth of the church. I believe the re-birth of FCC is where we are headed next….
At this time every year we all seem to be having our own private epiphanies about how we want our lives to be better. So we make resolutions; to eat better, to be more fit, to be more disciplined. To send our Christmas cards earlier next year.
It’s not hard to understand why. Thinking about the passing of another year, another season of life, naturally provokes the desire to be made new again.
Happy New Year!
No, this isn’t my January article, published in December by mistake. As you may know, November 29th was the first day of Advent and, as such, was the first day of the new calendar in Western Christian churches.
So for you, as a Christian, your new year has already begun!
The rhythms of our life shape us. We don’t always realize it, but our lives are very much like a song, complete with beats and rhythms, melodies and verse. The highs and lows of our daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly lives tend to make an impression on who we become.
Alex Kip is a voice for Christ reaching a new generation of believers to experience the power of love in their lives now. After overcoming cancer and losing his singing voice, with only a 15-30% chance of survival, he’s now in complete remission and a voice of inspiration for many. As a speaker and singer, he’s presented to major corporations and conferences like Wanderlust, UnitedHealthcare, Nationwide Insurance, Pelotonia, the University of Michigan, and more. His work has been featured on PBS, NPR Stations, the Huffington Post, Addicted2Success, and Lifehack. Additionally, his top-rated iTunes podcast, SoulFeed, has touched the lives of over 1 million + people around the world.
