This weekend the scripture basis for the message was Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." The Big Idea was that we should focus on today and trust God about tomorrow. For the purpose of tough times we believe that whatever struggle we may be facing is fleeting and temporary. I have heard it said before that as Christians we are to focus on the eternal and not on the temporary circumstances of this life. I believe that is true but it started me thinking about living in the moment. For me a lot of times I think I confuse living for the moment and living in the moment. Instant gratification has always been on my daily to do list if I am honest. I have always found it easy to justify what I want to have or do in the moment usually foregoing the implications to tomorrow. After all it's scriptural - I am letting tomorrow worry about itself since I sure wasn't.
So I have been wrestling with the difference between living in and living for the moment. The best I can figure it is back to that eternal perspective. If I am living for the moment than I am willing to sacrifice tomorrow and beyond for the pleasure of right now. It's the ultimate in letting sin run my life. I want the apple from that tree right now kind of stuff. Living in the moment is recognizing that the fear that holds me back from responding to God's prompting is usually selfish concern for me in this life. That may be oversimplifying it but that is what I have come up with so far.
I once heard someone define the way they quantified spiritual maturity was the amount of time from when they hear God speak to the time they act on it. The shorter the time the more mature they were becoming. That has stuck with me. In some cases I think I do not have enough of an eternal perspective and that blocks my spiritual maturity. Or in worse cases I live for the moment and make it all about me. Either way it is in my best interest to realize in this life tomorrow will take care of itself and my future is secure in He who holds all things together. And when He says "Go" I go.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
My Summer Vacation
So this summer I am taking a trip. I hope to use this blog to update people on what God is doing in and thru our team. In the meantime this is my support letter that I have begun to send out. I would love everyone and anyones prayers & support in this endeavor.
Dear Friends & Family
I am writing this letter to you today to let you know about an exciting opportunity I have coming up in June of this year. I and a team of people from our student ministry at Community Christian Church are traveling to San Pablo City in the Philippines to serve the Filipino people. We are partnering with an organization called Frontline Ministries. Frontline has a variety of ministry activities that we will be participating in such as their Face the Children program. Face the Children is a ministry developed in response to the large number of children that are abandoned by their families to live on the streets. There they are victims of unspeakable crime and abuse. Frontline goes to where the children gather and provides them food, clothing and necessary items and invites them to come live at their school. There they receive care, education and the opportunity at a much better life. In addition we will be going to several different church sites including the local prison and a garbage dump where the truly poorest of the poor live. Our trip will bring them a variety of necessary items but most of all will show people (who consider themselves to be lower than human) that they are God’s special creation.
We will be spending 2 weeks there, June 8 – 23. There are two ways you can help support me in this endeavor. The first and most important is to pray. We are taking a group of approximately 20 students and leaders. The travel time is extensive. We are relying on God for protection and safety throughout our journey and during our interaction with people that live in incredible unsanitary conditions. In addition we are going expectantly, that God would move in the lives of the Filipino people and in the lives of the students who will be experiencing international missions for the very first time. I would truly covet your prayers.
The second way you can support me is financially. The cost for the trip is $2500 per person and the vast majority of that is the airfare. I believe we serve a mighty God and that He can provide in ways that far exceed what I can dream or imagine. I would love to partner with you so this dream can become a reality. In addition to the airfare we provide support to Frontline Ministries and I am trusting God will bless them even beyond the amount I have committed to raise. All financial contributions will be collected through Community Christian Church so they will be accounted as charitable contributions for federal tax purposes. Please make checks payable to Community Christian Church with the words “Frontline” and “Raad” in the memo. You can give the checks to me or mail them to our church at the address below, attention Tim Raad.
Thank you for considering supporting me and the team as we follow Jesus to a place that is crying out for Him.
Tim Raad
1845 Indian Hill Lane
Aurora, Il 60503
630-209-8630
Dear Friends & Family
I am writing this letter to you today to let you know about an exciting opportunity I have coming up in June of this year. I and a team of people from our student ministry at Community Christian Church are traveling to San Pablo City in the Philippines to serve the Filipino people. We are partnering with an organization called Frontline Ministries. Frontline has a variety of ministry activities that we will be participating in such as their Face the Children program. Face the Children is a ministry developed in response to the large number of children that are abandoned by their families to live on the streets. There they are victims of unspeakable crime and abuse. Frontline goes to where the children gather and provides them food, clothing and necessary items and invites them to come live at their school. There they receive care, education and the opportunity at a much better life. In addition we will be going to several different church sites including the local prison and a garbage dump where the truly poorest of the poor live. Our trip will bring them a variety of necessary items but most of all will show people (who consider themselves to be lower than human) that they are God’s special creation.
We will be spending 2 weeks there, June 8 – 23. There are two ways you can help support me in this endeavor. The first and most important is to pray. We are taking a group of approximately 20 students and leaders. The travel time is extensive. We are relying on God for protection and safety throughout our journey and during our interaction with people that live in incredible unsanitary conditions. In addition we are going expectantly, that God would move in the lives of the Filipino people and in the lives of the students who will be experiencing international missions for the very first time. I would truly covet your prayers.
The second way you can support me is financially. The cost for the trip is $2500 per person and the vast majority of that is the airfare. I believe we serve a mighty God and that He can provide in ways that far exceed what I can dream or imagine. I would love to partner with you so this dream can become a reality. In addition to the airfare we provide support to Frontline Ministries and I am trusting God will bless them even beyond the amount I have committed to raise. All financial contributions will be collected through Community Christian Church so they will be accounted as charitable contributions for federal tax purposes. Please make checks payable to Community Christian Church with the words “Frontline” and “Raad” in the memo. You can give the checks to me or mail them to our church at the address below, attention Tim Raad.
Thank you for considering supporting me and the team as we follow Jesus to a place that is crying out for Him.
Tim Raad
1845 Indian Hill Lane
Aurora, Il 60503
630-209-8630
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