as the summer winds down and school & fall ramp up, there is also a fairly significant movement (back) to church. And if our minds and hearts are ill-prepared, we’ll forget that there are new people stepping out in faith. if we aren’t prayerfully prepared we will get caught in the trappings our own returning routines and reuniting with friends.

To be the church in the best of ways, we must make others our focus. We mustn’t forget that folks are coming as a result of God’s prompting – maybe even searching for God in the midst of difficult life circumstances.  In any case they will not only be looking for God, but looking for the people of God.  They’re hoping to find a God that loves them, and they will largely make that judgment based on whether the people of God notice and seem to care for them. That’s us.

And we do well not to over-spiritualize our part. Except to trust God to equip and work through us, our success with others is intensely practical. People will be moved to be noticed and to see ones easily break away from their cliquey conversations to greet them.  Come 15 minutes early, roam the foyer, look for ones you don’t know, resist the desire to hide in a comfortable conversation and put yourself “out there” for Jesus sake. Just one greeting is all we need from each of you.

New folks will also be impressed if there is a seat at the table for them. Can  you imagine being invited for dinner to someone’s home and then being offered a seat at folding table in the basement? How different would the experience be if you were offered the best seat? Let’s offer the best seats to others – those would be seats in the back 1/2 of a room near the aisles. Slide, slide, slide yourself to the center front! Better yet – help the ones you meet to find a seat. Escort them in and ask if they’d like your company or not. Some will accept others need to know its okay to decline!

Finally, use the first 3 minutes following services to meet someone else (or to reconnect with someone you met before hand). Most new folks will leave quickly – so we must be quick and intentional. A simple “thanks,” or “can i help you with anything,” or “can i respond to any questions,” is plenty.  Many times they will decline the offers, but it will mean a ton that you afforded them your time and the opportunity. Certainly we want to gather together each Sunday to pray and worship God and connect with friends, and we will. But the healthy church is a balanced church that always remembers it’s outward mission. Use the critical times to healthify the church!

let’s refuse to let it happen. let’s not forget. let’s join God and make the lost and returning the beat of our heart and the recipients of our attention. that’s the way. let’s go, church!

many of you are interested to know more about the adventures of Cambodia Team One and I assure you that many stories will emerge over the next few weeks through the Sunday messages and also we’ll be hearing a bit from both teams once Team Two returns on the 17th…

i’m looking forward to seeing you Sunday…hey, why not sit in the front center section so I can see you even better?!

ok, you’ve waited long enough for the rest of the “roof” story…too long…sorry for my delays. After receiving two quotes both north of $1300 to install a woman’s completely deteriorated (90% gone) roof we were convinced it should not be that expensive. in discussing it with a cambodian friend near the woman’s home, he agreed. he offered to take us to a place where we could buy second-hand, yet strong material. We decided to go for it and figure out how to install it later.   We took our friend to the home to measure what we needed, and while we where there…one of her neighbors said he could install it for us. Hmm. We though that would be awesome to keep the money right there is the poorest community in PP.  We were able to purchase 40 sheets of corrugated steel for $4/sheet! Total: $155 dollars (plus $4 delivery…which is whole ‘nuther story!)  The final negotiation would come with the contractor-neighbor (a man that stood 5′1″, with alcohol-laced breath, clothed with only the cloth around his waste and a belly that if it was your uncle you’d be tempted to rub). Would he charge us 300? 500? He eye-balled some measurements and discussed some with our interpreter. Finally our interpreter turned and said, “Yeah so, he can do it for 50 bucks.” As had become customary, I asked him to repeat…I certainly misunderstood through his accent. But that was his offer. 50 bucks! I controlled my self and agreed, thanked him and asked him when he could start and how long it would take.  He said he would have three workers start the next morning at 7am and finish by the end of the day. Which, to our surprised, they did. We gave them $60. I think Jen posted photos. He needed $27 more steel and some nails. Total cost: $247. AN D, now we have a supplier and a contractor to make other repairs for us in the worst possible place to “live” in PP.  That’s God.

We arrive in L.A. Sat, 2 pm PST, and in Columbus around 5 am EST, Sunday morn. See you soon…

Thanks for all your prayers and support…the whole team is feeling and doing just fine. Most rested very well on the long flight, which isn’t always easy.  We are scheduled to arrive in PP 10am Saturday morning (11pm tonight (Fri), your time)

We’ll have a fairly full day Sat, but you’ll be sleeping!  Expect some communications your Saturday morning from your friends and family…