Yesterday morning I found this card on my desk along with a gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts and iTunes! It was from Our Generation, the young adult ministry here at River Oaks. The note read, “We hope that you enjoy some coffee, donuts and music – Josh can help you use the iTunes gift card! (Okay, that was a dig at my age, but I really will need the help from my son.) Our hope is that you can use these to relax and rejuvenate, and that we can give back to you as you have given to us. Thank you for all the time, work and effort you put in at serving River Oaks and impacting us and so many others.” – The young adult ministry peeps.

And just this morning, I received a call from one of the members of the Young Adult Thursday night Bible Study volunteering their entire group to help watch the children at tomorrow night’s Maundy Thursday service. I told him that that we actually had more help than we needed, but thanks anyway.

These two expressions of service have been such an encouragement to me, not only the actions themselves, but the spiritual maturity behind those actions! I am witnessing a new generation step up and serve the body of Christ, and not just to their own age-group, but to the generation behind them and the one ahead of them!

I will be speaking tomorrow night at the Maundy Thursday service from John 13:12-15, “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

I think I just had my feet washed by some young adults! Thanks!

Tim

On Sunday I gave the challenge to read the Gospel of Luke this week for our final preparation for Easter. Here is the schedule:

Monday: Luke 1-5 (skip 3:24-37)

Tuesday: Luke 6-10

Wednesday: Luke 11-15

Maundy Thursday: Luke 16-20

Good Friday: Luke 23:1-49

Saturday: Luke 23:50-56

Easter Sunday: Luke 24

If you would like to read Luke on-line or listen to it on-line, go to biblegateway.com.

I hope you will take the challenge and enjoy some extended time in the Word!

Tim

I want to thank everyone who participated in our Spring Compassion Project. Once again, River Oaks stepped up and showed real compassion to the poor in our area. Over the past month, the people of River Oaks purchased food with their own money, boxed it and brought it to the church. On Saturday, we delivered almost 700 boxes of food, totaling somewhere around $10,000, to Guidance Ministry, a local food pantry serving the needy of Elkhart! Thanks for your show of charity during this season of Lent! May God reward you for your act of kindness to the ‘least of these’.

Tim

This morning I was thumbing through Leadership Magazine and came across this picture. It was in an advertisement for a conference at Moody Bible Institute. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and that was true for me. I was challenged to re-double my prayer efforts for the River Oaks flock. Many are unemployed, underemployed, struggling with health, marriage or parenting issues. As a church we face several concerns or challenges for which we need God’s guidance or protection. To remind me to pray more, I cut this picture out of the magazine and put it in a frame. It now sits near my desk.

Who makes up your flock? Your family, your employees or co-workers, your ministry team, your Care Group, your students? Perhaps you would use this picture to help you remember to pray for those in your care or those you care for.

Tim