Released 2

How about those Hawks? Wow. 49 years is a long time.  Have faith Cub Fans!
 
As promised last week, here is a link to Lauren’s blog for Guatemala this summer.
And here is Tommy Carrerras’ blog.

I was also asked to add Elise Heiting to the list of our summer kids who are released. She is doing work in the Appalachian mountains with the under resourced people there.
 
And here is a note from our team in Jamaica. 
 
I’m hearing that the Mexico trip is going well too.
 
So after last week’s article, I heard from someone else who has been released. But they have done it in a very different way. They adopted. This person reminded me that some people are released into “the whole world” and some people bring the whole world home. I definitely want to ask you to add our adoptive parents to the summer prayer list. Lauren is going to be inconvenienced for 8 weeks and then come home to normality (if that was ever true). When you adopt – you are making a permanent life changing decision. And it’s not easy. There are a lot of hurdles. Especially when it’s a special needs adoption, like many of our adopted kids are.  
 
The truth is that if 7% of the world’s Christians would adopt there would be no orphans left. As is, there are 330,000 kids in Russia alone, waiting.  And 500,000 in China.  
 
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

Doesn’t have to be international either.
 
Of the 500,000 children in the U.S. foster care system, 130,000 are available for adoption. And HELLO – the other 370, 000 need help too.
 
My friend reminded me that we all have a responsibility to do something.  For some it’s a life change – forever.  Let’s pray for them.
 
Read some articles on adoption.

Don’t miss the next two weekends.  Father’s Day is coming together!  And this week is another one I’m really passionate about.  
 
Tim

Comments

[James1:1]

Nice sermon this week PT. I especially liked the point that we CAN'T be perfect Christians.Impossible except by Grace. Rules can't get us any closer, just further from Him.
As far as the opener safety-eye issue...I beat you to it

[Mr. Puggle]

Your legalism sermon was one of the funniest I have seen in the past five years. You HAVE to see this interview with Alice Cooper. When he was younger, he was one of those "Better" Christians. He even went to Friday night service. He says his Dad and Granddad were ministers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oim4OWMANZ4

[Patty Berg]

Pastor Tim,

I really want to Thank You for your sermon this week. I have been struggling with "The Catholic" God I grew up with and The Christian God I now pray to. I am a newer Christian and find a lot of the things I read in the Bible confusing. You said something yesterday that clarified a lot for me. I have been finding myself struggling with prayer because I do not feel that God loves me yet and I "HAVE TO". I also have residue left in my mind that if I do not pray I am going to "Hell". Anyway, my point is that when you were speaking yesterday, you said "GOD GIVES US A CHOICE". We can listening to music or pray, watch TV or read, etc. A huge "LIGHT BULB" came on and I realized that I can pray if I want to pray. I have never heard it stated that way and it gave me a fresh idea and new outlook on God. I find it easier to get up and say I am gonna pray because I want to. The rule was reworded for a person like me. Thanks SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!
GOD BLESS,
PATRICIA BERG

[carol hargett]

regarding adoption. i met this lady at a Mops meeting a few months back. she is a great resource for anyone interested in adopting. http://www.projecthopeful.org/