2009

http://shift.churchofthehighlands.com/?p=420

http://www.awake21.org/

Eric posted this to a Google Groups list of SGLeaders wanting us as a team to ponder it alot and to prayerfully consider......what does 2009 look like for those of us who call ourselves Followers of Christ . The attached link has some more stuff for your consideration.....we can talk about it here. If this comes as a surprise to you, the demise of NC....it could, it shouldn't....but if it does, ask yourselves WHY? And in the asking and prayerfully considering all that Eric writes here...what next? Again we can discuss here what we as a Prayer Team consider our call in this.....Join me in praying that 2009 is a real Holy Spirit Renewal/Revival year.....

Well, the supposedly last New Community has come and gone.
What a send-off!! What a crowd!! Great job to everyone on the music and drama teams. This post is not going to be an argument to keep NC. I was struck byJustin's last comment on NC: "It's sad to see so few people mourn thepassing of this dear, old friend (i.e. New Community)". I have been saddened by this too.
Is it because there are many who are sad, but just not expressing their sadness, or because so few are truly impacted by NC? If it is the latter, then it needs to go away. If it is the former, then why are there not people putting their bodies in front of the tank to stop this process??
I thought that maybe it is because we trust our leadership enough, especially Roy, that we were waiting for the grand replacement idea...that this discussion he started was really about setting us up for a new change, a new idea, an Obama-like promise of a new era. In other words, Roy already has this figured out, we trust that it willbe good, so we decide that even though a "dear, old friend" is passing on, we'll get a new friend that will be even better.
Then I had breakfast with Roy. If you go back to the original post ofhis on this thread, he says, "Please don't wait for someone else to say something. If you have thoughts, emotions, etc, you owe it to this group to share those. Help me! I am stuck and need to bemoved."
After meeting with him, I discovered he wasn't joking. I really thought that he had some great new scheme up his sleeve. I suggested that maybe we all were awaiting the announcement and unveiling of the New New Community. He assured me that he doesn't have one.
I think that what I take from this is that for too long in our minds, Shoal Creek Community Church has been The Church of Roy & Candy Moran.
We let them take the true risks; we let them take the hits; we lett hem set the vision; we let them anxiously oversee the resources and finances; we let them determine the direction, mission, and activities; we let them host meetings, buy breakfasts, juggle their schedules around ours, let them be responsible for the teaching, preaching, and creativity. Sure, we give our time, talents, and treasures, but we don't even come close to what they've done for many of us.
We look for Roy and Candy to set the pace and direct our activities, within the parameters that we set, of course.
We talka bout Ownership, but deep down, I wonder that any one of us could walk away today and we'd find another church, another community (of somesort), another set of activities to keep us busy.
We haven't burned the ships in our lives and really sold out to the mission of thechurch.
We expect Roy & Candy to do that (heck, that's what we paythem to do)...and we do just enough to say we're "owners", but not enough to call it truly sacrificial and create pain in our lives.
I am a chief sinner here. At what point will I decide that this thing we call SCCC is MY mission, MY calling, and MY lighthouse for reaching a lost and hurting world?
On Thursday morning, a group of us men discussed what it is that we, as Christ-followers, are "responsible" for and what we're not. And it came down to one thing in our discussion -- because we're only capable of one thing -- obedience.
We have one choice -- be obedient to Godor don't.
Follow Him or don't.
Open our hearts to Him or don't.
Give Him total reign in our lives or don't.
And because I don't know the right answer to whether NC should stay or go or what should replace it, if anything, then my only suggestion left is that we need to obey God.

But I can't obey God if I don't know what He wants in this. And the reality is, I haven't even asked Him. I've been too busy talking about my own petty little life and wants. And so, as merely a suggestion for consideration or to re-engage this discussion,I wonder about taking those now empty Wednesday nights for the next couple of months and simply come together in prayer...to gather together simply to sit in open, honest, and expectant prayer and ask God to guide us, to show us, to ask us to the task that He wants from us that we can then openly and honestly decide whether to obey -- or not.Eric

New Prayer Request

New prayer request from Cynthia Kilbane:
Cynthia's father passed away this afternoon. Please pray for her and her family.

New Prayer Requests

Update from Sue thanks for praying:

Hi Gals - thank you so much for your encouraging words and thoughts, it really meant a lot! Gretchen and baby seem to be fine. They've monitored her all afternoon and have determined she's not in active labor (although, she's dialated to a 3-4). The baby has moved head down, which is unexpected and great news! They are guessing the bleeding came from her placenta pulling away a bit, so they are having her stay in the hospital until Thursday and then low to no activity for 3-5 days after that. She's at 35 weeks and they want the baby to stay in as long as possible. Our family is thankful for this news, as we had quite the scare this afternoon.

I'm sure she would appreciate your continued prayers for her comfort and patience (and endurance, she says she's already bored!:) Charlie (her son) is 17 months and quite active as you can imagine. Fortunately, her husband's family is in Dallas and they have friends that will be helping out. My mom may fly down later this week too. Anyway, thanks for being my virtual support system, you guys were the first people I wanted to inform. See you soon - Sue

New prayer request from Sue Wager re: her sisters pregnancy :

My sister just called, she's on her way the hospital. She's due January 11 and has been monitored throughout this pregnancy for a low placenta. She had another ultrasound yesterday that revealed it was still placenta previa and the baby was traverse (sideways). They had scheduled her for an induction (and likely c-section) on January 5, but she just experienced a large gush of blood and has been bleeding ever since. Per her dr., she is on her way to labor and delivery and is very scared (she's read all the things that can happen w/ previa). So, all that to say, please pray for her and the baby's safety. Thank you all so much - Sue


New prayer request from Leigh Morris:
Greetings,

My name is Leigh Morris and I work for a not-for-profit organization, Triality, Inc. We are currently recruiting volunteers for our volunteer program. We have two facilities in the area. Our Tots center is a stone's throw from your church in Pleasant Valley!

The Triality Tots center is located in Pleasant Valley, and provides services to children ages birth through Kindergarten, some of whom have special and/or medical needs. There are opportunities for helping in any of the classrooms, although the infant room is usually very popular as there are always babies that need rocking. We also have many small maintenance jobs that would benefit from someone's loving attention. The adult center in Liberty has four to five classrooms of adults with special needs, and could use help with activities, lunch time, community outings, etc. We are happy to accommodate many different schedules, time commitments or interests. If any of your members have special hobbies or skills they would like to share, that would be welcome as well. The hours at Triality Tots are 7:00am to 6:00 pm; the hours at Triality Day Hab are 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Triality provides much-needed services to both our clients and their families. Several of our families are only able to continue working because of the day-time care that we provide for their special needs children. We strive to provide the highest educational, medical and therapeutic care to our clients; however, we would be extremely grateful to accept involvement from the communities in which we operate and serve. Government funding has been cut considerably in the last few years, resulting in a shrinking budget from which we can operate

Thank you in advance for your assistance. We look forward, hopefully, to working with members of your congregation. Happy Holidays! (I apologize for using this portal to submit my request, but couldn't find an e-mail address anywhere on your site, and no one answered the phone this morning.)

Best Regards,
Leigh Morris, R.N.
Nursing Coordinator
Triality, Inc.
816.476.4011
work e-mail: lmorris@trialityinc.org

suffering the recent loss of family members

Don and Wilma



Roberta



Don H.

update / request from Sean Hoeflicker

Subject: Sinnett/Buskirk Updates
Good morning all,
Just trying to keep everyone updated. Richard is still at NKC Hospital (room 994). For those of you that may not know, he had knee surgery last Wed and after two ER visits was readmitted for emergency surgery on Tuesday due to a serious infection. They are guessing it is a staff infection but because he had been on antibiotics already for 5 days they are unable to say conclusively. It spread quickly and was very painful but the doctors caught it before it got beyond his leg so they are optimistic that they will be able to get it under control soon. They are still keeping him at this point and said he "might" go home tomorrow but their hesitation says a lot. He is still fighting a tremendous amount of pain and swelling. They will be sending him home with IV antibiotics that he will need to stay on for 2 weeks prior to finishing out with another 2 weeks of oral antibiotics (if that gives you any indication of the severity of the infection). He is going rather stir crazy and if any of you have a moment to stop by it would be greatly appreciated, just call before you come to make sure they don't surprise us and send him home. My cell: 913-963-7758.

My mother had brain surgery on Monday and is at home doing well so far. Please keep her infection free state in your prayers as she goes in for her second surgery next Tuesday and it is crucial that she remain healthy.

Ashley is over her salmonella food poisoning and back at school.

That's it for now. If you have questions please don't hesitate to call. Thank each of you for your prayers and well wishes.

Jenn

Kidzmall
Christmas Services
Bukwini Boutique
Economy.....loss of jobs and homes among people close to us and for the Holy Spirit to guide us in how to walk alongside of those who have or will lose either in the upcoming recession.
a couple of our own prayer partners...Brian and Steph....
add to as the day progresses......

Kidzmall and Bukwini Boutique this weekend. Praying for success and for much interaction between those who serve with those looking for a new kind of community. Praying for the Holy Spirit to infuse all of us with servant hearts and love for others all others.


Roy 'twittered' this morning "How can a person consider others more important than themselves without the consumption of grace " so praying in this area we become voracious consumers.

What, what did you say.... you say don't twitter? Join in the fun!
May be even another way to get prayer cues.