Michael's Memo.

The J-town McDonalds is where I’m hanging my hat this afternoon. There are four reasons why I’m here at the J-town McDonalds…

Reason 1: It’s part of my Jerusalem.

Reason 2: They’ve got wi-fi.

Reason 3: Their coffee is at least wet.

Reason 4: The smell of a greasy McDouble is intoxicating to me!!

What a Sunday we had last weekend. WOW! Don't you just love seeing God work in the lives of people.

I don’t know about you, but I can sense the momentum building not only for Easter but for how God is going to use Encounter Church within the J-town area. With this in mind, here are a few highlights to mention…

Highlight 1: 5 DAYS. We’ve had a great response to 5 DAYS. If you have not yet experienced 5 DAYS, what are you waiting on? Get there tonight! Take time to remind yourself of the significance of Christ’s death burial and resurrection. Huge thanks to all who made 5 DAYS a reality. Love it.

Highlight 2: EASTER IS THIS SUNDAY! We worship and serve a LIVING Jesus and we’re really going to throw a party this Sunday. Invite everyone you know to come and celebrate. Pray for some big time decisions to be made.

Highlight 3: New Faces. In recent weeks we’ve had quite a few new faces joining with us at our Worship Gatherings. With all of these new faces, it means that we need to be more INTENTIONAL in welcoming and including others into our already existing friendships. Let’s work hard at establishing Loving Relationships.

Highlight 4: Financial Peace University is coming to Encounter Church. Matt and Kristin Cohee will be facilitating this dynamic 13-week class. I encourage you to spread the word about this class which we’re making available. Let’s pack the house every Wednesday evening beginning May 25.

Highlight 5: Church Picnic. Encounter Church is a party waiting to happen! On Sunday, May 29 we are going to have a church picnic that will give all of us a chance to strengthen our relationships with each other. Good food will be eaten and good times will be had by all! More details will be coming soon.

Highlight 6: Vacation Bible School (VBS). Last year our single most effective outreach was VBS. We’re gearing up to reach the community again this year! The dates for VBS are July 25-31. Start praying and plan on getting involved.

God is just getting started with us Encounter. Are you ready? ~MB

Where the Cross Ought to Be.

George MacLeod, a Scottish clergyman, once stated…

I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the market place as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles: but on a cross between two thieves; on a town garbage heap; at a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek...And at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, thieves curse and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died, and that is what He died about. And that is where Christ's men ought to be, and what church people ought to be about.

Let's get the message of the cross out where it ought to be. Easter is coming!