Tornado Relief

Luke Benson1 Comment

We are currently working together with Christian Service Mission to provide needed relief items to tornado victims in the Birmingham AL area. Below are the most current needs. You can also visit their Facebook for up to the minute info.

Most current needs:

Cleaning supplies-buckets brooms ect.

30 quart plastic containers

Bath Towels

Baby and adult diapers

Bug spray

Gatorade

Sunscreen

Ponchos

Trash Bags

Tents

Disposable plates and utensils

Personal  Hygiene items

Can Openers

Chain Saws

Non perishable food items- peanut butter and jelly

Tarps

Duct tape

Construction  supplies

Yard tools

Please bring any items for donation to the Eastgate office Tuesday- Friday 10am-3pm or to the Eastgate meetings on Wednesday and Sunday. We will be delivering these donations May 23, 2011 so the final day to bring your donations is May 22,2011.

The Finder of the Lost

Rob Woodrum5 Comments

Ever lose anything…like something pretty important?  What was it?  How did you feel, what did you do?  If you found it again, what emotions did you experience?

I lost my dog Shadow once…but I’ll tell that story on Sunday.

Jesus goes toe to toe with Pharisee lame-ness in our passage this Sunday, Luke 15:1-10.

The story opens with Pharisees grumbling because Jesus is hanging out with the wrong crowd, yet again. They specifically are upset because Jesus is eating with decidedly non-spiritually minded people.  What’s the big deal with that, do you suppose?

To answer, Jesus responds the best way he does, with four different parables (not three, as Eugene Peterson points out in his book “Tell it Slant”) about lost-ness. He talks about a lost sheep, lost coin and two lost sons.  We’ll only look at the first two this Sunday.

I love these stories.  What are your thoughts on what Jesus is conveying about the nature of the Kingdom of God advancing in this world?  What does this reveal about God’s heart toward humanity…and what does this reveal about humanity…about YOU?  Read v5 and close your eyes and imagine the scene…what does it evoke in you emotionally?

Man…I love this section.  Hope you can make it this Sunday.  Surf n Grill is this Sunday too!!! Come hang out at St. Andrew’s St Park and we’ll eat and enjoy the beach and baptize a few folks who are “found”…and let’s get stoked!  We still need people to hang late and help clean up…so pray about serving Christ this way!  See you then!

What it Means to Follow Christ

Rob Woodrum5 Comments

I had a friend who owned a 9’6″ longboard which had it’s origins somewhere in the early 70’s. The thing was a beast. Dark green and heavy, it caught waves really well but was a feat of strength to turn. It had no leash plug, not even an old fashioned hole in the fin to tie one on – consequently he would surf it without a leash. He was pretty good, so it usually wasn’t a problem.
What was awesome about that board was it’s intimidation factor. If you dropped in on that board, you would not win. It would plow you under. On days when the swell was particularly good and the numbers of boards in the water were increasing by the hour, my friend would smile and pat that huge green beast of a board and say “I’m not worried about how many are out here. I have a CROWD CONTROL board.”

Crowd control. That’s sorta’ what Jesus is about in the section we’ll be reading in Luke this week. (Luke 14:25-35)

Jesus is experiencing what it seems most contemporary pastors in the U.S. are obsessed with achieving – large crowds.   Jesus never seems to be able to appreciate big crowds, because when he has them, he always seems to make “crowd control” statements which thins the herd. John 6 is a great example of that too.  In this instance, Jesus begins spelling out in stark, even harsh, detail what following him really means, what it will really cost.  Why do you suppose he said this in this context?

He talks about hating family members and hating self in order to follow him.  Wow. As modern pastors, we scramble around as quickly as possible to explain it doesn’t really mean that (and it doesn’t in terms of the straight English reading of it)….BUT, Jesus never qualifies what he says.  He just pulls the pin on the grenade and smiles.  I find that both fascinating, admirable – and scary.  How do you read this? What do you think he’s saying?

He also talks about counting the cost of following him, illustrating it with a story of an incomplete construction project and a king considering going to war with insufficient forces. The thrust of both those stories is RE-EVALUATION.  What is Jesus telling us we will need to reevaluate when we count the cost of following him?

If we follow Jesus we are not defined by our families (v25-26), we are not defined by our own self will (v27), and v 33 tells us what ELSE we are not defined by.  What does he say, and how badly does it cut us as good American consumers?

Jesus pulls no punches in this section. This is a crowd control speech if ever there was one. His words are a dividing line between spectators and the team. These aren’t words to apply to everyone else, these words are missiles aimed at our own heart. These are words to wrestle with – they are designed to produce crisis. Crisis which leads to conversion and correction and ultimately, the best life possible on this broken planet. Salt, after all, is GOOD.

Ok…well, this is stuff to ruminate on until Sunday. Hope to see you there!

Easter is Here!

Rob Woodrum5 Comments

They had seen him die.  They had watched in horror as his tortured body gasped and gurgled it’s last breath. They saw his skin change color, his jaw go slack and his eyes set.  Still, lifeless, they knew that the person they had followed and loved was a stranger to them now. No sparkle in the eye, no grin or laughter, no knowing look.  Just a shell; a grizzly mannequin hanging like an effigy of all their hopes and dreams.

When all hope is gone, when dreams and loves have run through your fingers like sand, when you slump to the wall and whisper “it’s broken, it will never be right again”, God has one final word for you.

RESURRECTION!

Look in wonder at wide open horizons of hope that resurrection reveals. God reveals that he’s the God of NEW BEGINNINGS, and no matter what we say is plausible or rational or scientifically viable, God winks and reminds us those are not the adjectives that describe a deeper magic.  Resurrection reminds us that God is God and the possibilities are endless as life passes through his hands.

No one expected this. During those three days not one disciple suggested that maybe Jesus would be back. Why would they? This is unheard of, unthinkable, impossible. Yet there he was. He had passed through the grave and come out the other side in a whole new condition of existence.  Sometimes our hopes and dreams have to have the mark of the cross on them. Sometimes we have weep and bury them, only to discover they were really the seeds of a whole new answer and purpose we hadn’t anticipated. Flowers that are different from the picture on the package, but are far more wonderful than we could have conceived of.

This is the wonder of Easter.

I hope you can come out and celebrate with us at some point this weekend…or for everything we’re doing!  Here’s what we have going on:

FRIDAY @6:30 pm, APRIL 22nd: We’re having a special GOOD FRIDAY BURNING HOUSE service.  We’re going to have elements of the Seder (the Passover meal) for you to sample, and we’re going to talk about the correlation between the Seder and Jesus’ instructions to us concerning the communion.  There’ll be music and praying for each other and hanging out and laughing and maybe crying…all the stuff connected with human beings reaching for the Divine.

EASTER SUNDAY @6 AM: The Dawn Patrol Sunrise Service!  GET UP! GET STOKED! HE’S ALIVE!! Easter morning we are going to meet on the beach for a time of worship, reflection and prayer as we begin the day where we remember that Jesus rose from the dead and changed everything forever.  If that’s not a reason to get up early, I can’t imagine what is. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. We’ll be meeting at the corner of Oriole and Gulf drive on Panama City Beach (off of Thomas Dr).  Here’s a map

EASTER SUNDAY, 9-11 AM: Come celebrate Easter as we read and explore John 20:10-20, 24-31.  It’s the story of a guy named Tom…someone I consider a soulmate.  We’re going to look at his journey from honest doubt to real faith.  Have you ever struggled with doubts and questions concerning the claims the Bible makes?  We don’t need to be afraid of doubt, and especially don’t feel shame.  Tom is our guide through those times we ALL have.  What do you see in this story?  What does it inspire in you?

Ok…well….long update, but worth it! Hope to see you at some point this weekend!

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

If you were invited to a special dinner thrown to honor a great person, lets say, a war hero or a philanthropist…the ceremony was free and was going to be lavish.  Would you go?  If you didn’t go, what sort of excuse would you consider valid?

Jesus is going to pose this sort of scenario in the portion of Luke we’ll be reading this Sunday. Luke 14:15-24

As you read the story and consider what it is that Jesus is responding to, what do you believe his main point is in this parable? As we think about the broader implications of Jesus’ story, we start to make some observations about the kingdom of God as Jesus presents it. If we understand the kingdom of God in eternity to be the marriage of heaven and earth and the restoration of all things…what does the imagery of a banquet mean to you? Does this conjure up images of dry ice fog, clouds and harps….or something else?

Who are the people who enjoy this party? Who are the people left out…and why?  What place do you see yourself in this story, and what response does it inspire in you (if any)?

We’ll unpack this as best we can on Sunday — see you then!

The Humble Priority

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

Whooo…running late this week…sorry for the short notice on this Sunday’s message.

What’s the most humiliating experience you’ve ever had? What lessons, if any, did you learn from that experience?

It’s not fun to be humbled…and it’s certainly the rare person who has “be more humble” at the top of their day’s plans.  But Jesus calls us to humility, in fact, we could say he presents us with the priority of humility in the passage we’ll be looking at this week.  We’ll be reading Luke 14:1-14.

Jesus gives us very practical instructions on social etiquette in v7-11…but what do you think a deeper point may be?

Many times we tend to think of humility as a low sense of self-worth.  That doesn’t seem to be God’s concept though.  How would you describe what humility looks like in practice as you read over this passage?

This will be challenging, but affirming in God’s love at the same time!  Hope to see you Sunday!

Finding Peace in a Threatening World

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

There are a lot of things to be afraid of in this world…but I wonder how many of the things we perceive as dangers are really a threat at all? Remember Y2K? How about the ruination of our beaches here, the apocalyptic forecasts of how life would never return to normal after the spill? I know some people still insist that the danger isn’t over…and maybe not, but the devastation certainly hasn’t panned out like so many people predicted. One guy wrote a book about the culture of fear we’ve been cultivating here in our country. We certainly do seem to be motivated a lot by what can only be described as fear mongering.

And you know what? I think the evangelical church leads the pack of culprits in this arena. After all, we latch on to any evidence we can find that things are going to hell in a handbasket in order to drive home the point that its time to repent. The problem with that is, we tend to throw around false statistics and unfounded rumors right along with those who are making a lot of money by keeping an audience glued to the latest threat to our cozy lifestyle. I think we need to amend our ways.

But what about the threats we perceive in this broken world? Our passage this Sunday will be Luke 13:31-35, and we’ll be looking at how Jesus responded to a threat posed to his well being. How does he respond…and why does he respond the way he does? Jesus launches into his lament over Jerusalem. How does he describe himself/God? How can this image of God’s behavior toward rebellious people help resolve our own feelings of insecurity or fear?

Hope to see you Sunday!  Peace!

Skinny Door

Rob Woodrum8 Comments

We’re reading Luke 13:22-30 this Sunday.

I remember several years ago that Robbie and I had to fly out west because of a family emergency, a family member had died.  Our flight locally was delayed, and we had a very short layover for our connecting flight. We raced through the airport only to get to the gate just as they closed the door. We ran up and asked to be let on board, but the attendants were unmovable. The rules state that once the door is closed no one else is allowed on. But we begged, saying the plane is still here, the ramp is still connected! Sorry, the rules say no one gets on. There we were, tickets for that flight in hand, no checked baggage, straight from another flight so already passed through security…but still barred from entrance.

We were so frustrated…furious at the insensitivity and senselessness of such impersonal treatment.  We vowed never to fly with that airline again…and but for a few exceptions, have been pretty successful at avoiding them. Ever go through something like that and felt the incredulity of how unfair it all felt?

It’s strange, then, that Jesus tells a story that seems to carry that kind of sentiment to it in the passage we’ll be reading this Sunday. Someone asks a question about salvation…but what did HE mean by salvation?  Was it the same thing WE mean?

What does the image of a narrow door speak to you?  How would you interpret his meaning to your own life?

What is the basis for the Master of the house not letting the latecomers in? What is his reason for sending them away?  Who DOES get in? How would you interpret a saying like “the last shall be first and the first shall be last”?

Lots to think about…hope to see you Sunday!

A Small and Slow Dominion

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

This Sunday we’ll be reading Luke 13:18-21.

Jesus compares the advancing rule of God over the hearts of people to tiny seeds and yeast.  Very small things that lead to a greater presence and influence. Why do you suppose Jesus told this parable right on the heels of healing the woman who was doubled over?  What connection do you make?

If you were to consider what is most effective in the church right now, what would it be?  How do you measure effectiveness- by size or number or monetary value…or something else?  How would Jesus’ parable effect your thoughts on what constitutes success?

Just some quick thoughts before Sunday.  Please pray for Ralph Marinachi, Sue Watson and P.J. Watner, they’re all pretty sick and in need of God’s healing touch.  Of course, don’t forget to pray for the people of Japan.

Prioritizing People

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

I’m sure everyone is aware of the terrible disaster in Japan.  We keep them in prayer and trust the Lord to extend his mercy and grace to the people there. We certainly seem to be witnessing the world in upheaval, both the natural world and the kingdom’s of men. Jesus said that these types of events would characterize the age we live in. Whether they point toward a nearing end or not, the main thing is to keep our focus on God and to keep doing what we’ve been called to do.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Luke 13:10-17 . We have here, a classic story of priorities which have gotten out of whack…and Jesus arriving on the scene to straighten things out.  Literally.

What is the clear sense of priority we get from these events? The ruler of the synagogue scolds the woman, but he’s obviously trying to correct Jesus as well. What are the priorities of the ruler of the synagogue?

Here’s another thing to ponder…why do you think didn’t Jesus wait a few more hours until sunset to heal that woman? She wasn’t in immediate peril, why did he feel the need to do that healing right then, instead of waiting until later and avoiding the controversy?  Do you read a message in that to us?

Jesus heals the woman, then defends her and everyone rejoices. It’s a pretty awesome story of the Hero King.  I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.