It looks like we are going to do it again! For this year’s Christmas Project, we set a goal at River Oaks to raise $60,000 for various ministries in our area and around the world who minister to the poor in the name of Christ. I just received the total amount through this past Sunday and we are at $49,000, just shy of the goal by $11,000 with another week before the deadline! I know we are not there yet, but I am confident that even in a very challenging economic environment, with many of our people out of work, working part-time or earning less money, we will eclipse the goal again! It is so rewarding to see how God’s people respond to the needs of the poor and I am proud to be associated with such a generous group of people. Stay tuned!

Tim

Today I received an e-mail from Kendra Wiestock responding to my message yesterday on ‘pondering’. Kendra is a seasoned blogger (unlike me) and she forwarded her post from Sunday. She tells of her journey of fighting cancer and looking back over the past four years. She graciously gave me permission to link to it. I hope you will take a couple of minutes and read her story. Thanks, Kendra! and I am impressed with your faith and your grace.

Tim

On Sunday, December 6th I gave a message based on the statement in Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart”. “Pondering”, according to the Webster dictionary means “to think and reflect quietly and deeply“. (more…)