Road Trip Report

The brief report on the Men’s Road Trip is that once again it was…fantastic! The speaker, Ken Goodban, was great. Our focus this season is prayer and Ken kicked it off for us very well. The activities were great. Lake Mohave could not have been more beautiful and serene…until Daryl fired up his boat. We had a great time at K-1 Speed driving go karts. And…apparently…I crash better than I drive. Congratulations to Ernesto Diaz who took home first place in the first ever Venice Church Grand Prix!

Thanks so much to Brad Jensen and his team for planning a great event for the men of Venice.

And now…here’s Amy.

Hey Guys,

We really need to get cranking on Trunk or Treat. We have eight confirmed cars for the event. We still need 12 more. If you are willing to decorate your trunk and help pass out candy please respond to this email. There will be a grand prize for the best decorated trunk. We need everybody to help by donating candy. If you could just pick up a bag of candy every time that you go in the grocery store and then bring them and drop them off in the coffee bar it will be a big help. Please help us make our first go of Trunk or Treat a big success in our community. Invitations will be available in the next week or so. Thanks for all of your help.

Think Of All That God Has Done

The news is not good. The economy is, apparently, in bad shape. People are losing equity in their homes and/or losing their homes. Jobs are becoming scarce.

Things don’t always go our way. Economies don’t just keep going up and to the right forever. The Dallas Cowboys are 2-0, but they are not going to go 19-0 especially if they play defense like they did on Monday night. I get that. Things don’t always go our way.

This is what I don’t get. I don’t get how we forget so easily what God has done for us. It is easy for us to get caught up in the “doom and gloom” talk. It is easy for us to look at the bottom line and think that things are just terrible.

While reading in the book of Amos this morning I read this:

Amos 2:9

(God says), “Yet think of all I did for my people.”

Amos is bringing a lot of doom and gloom. He is talking about how people have sinned against God and how they will be judged. And still he says, ”Think about all that God has done for us.” We must think about all that God has done for us. Too many times, as I talk with people here at Venice, they forget all that God has done for them. A problem, maybe even a crisis arises in their lives and they turn on God. They turn on the church. They blame God. They distance themselves from the church. Turning on God and turning away from the church is the worst thing that you can do.

Times may be tough. They may get tougher.

Think of all that God has done for you. Think of all that God has done for us. I am not talking about being positive for the sake of being positive. I am talking about really focusing on all that God has done for us and then praising Him and trusting Him and going on with Him for His glory. We can start with the fact that by His grace He has forgiven us when we were unforgivable. What a great God! He has done so much for us and if He never did anything else for us He has done enough.

Today I want to focus on all that God has done for me. I pray that you will too.

In His Love,

Craig

Upcoming Events:

September 21^st – 23^rd – Men’s Ministry Road Trip

October 4^th – CLASS 101: Discovering Membership

October 19^th – 40 Days of Community

October 31^st – Trunk & Treat presented by Rockstars Childrens Ministry

One Big Day

Sunday is the big day. My friend and mentor Jerry Thorpe will be here to speak to us in the morning service (10:00 AM). Invite somebody to come with you. Come a little bit early and enjoy a beverage in the coffee bar and receive a free Venice Church mug with the price of your drink.

And if you serve in a ministry or if you are interested in serving in a ministry here at Venice please make plans to be here for our Leadership Gathering on September 14^th @ 5:00 PM. Dessert will be served and Jerry will be challenging us and encouraging us and inspiring us in our service to God and His church. (Child care will be provided.)

Upcoming Events:

September 14^th – Guest Speaker: Dr. Jerry Thorpe

September 14^th @ 5:00 PM – Leadership Seminar with Jerry Thorpe

September 21^st – 23^rd – Men’s Ministry Road Trip – Sign up and pay at the Info Center

October 4^th – CLASS 101: Discovering Membership

October 19^th – 40 Days of Community

October 31^st – Trunk & Treat presented by Rockstars Childrens Ministry

September Craziness

Our Day @ the Beach is this Saturday. We are meeting at Dockweiler Beach beginning at 10:00 AM. Look for the awnings and the Venice Church sign. Bring you own lunch and plan to enjoy a lot of good fellowship.

Please continue to make plans to be here on Sunday September 14^th. My friend and mentor Jerry Thorpe will be here to speak to us in the morning service. Invite somebody to come with you. Come a little bit early and enjoy a beverage in the coffee bar and receive a free Venice Church mug with the price of your drink.

And finally…if you serve in a ministry or if you are interested in serving in a ministry here at Venice please make plans to be here for our Leadership Gathering on September 14^th @ 5:00 PM. Dessert will be served and Jerry will be challenging us and encouraging us and inspiring us in our service to God and His church. (Child care will be provided.)

This Sunday we wrap up our study in James as we talk about Praying About Your Problems. I look forward to seeing you then.

And...oh yeah....pro football starts tomorrow.

Growing With You,

Craig

Upcoming Events:

September 6^th – Venice Church Beach Party

September 14^th – Guest Speaker: Dr. Jerry Thorpe

September 14^th @ 5:00 PM – Leadership Seminar with Jerry Thorpe

September 21^st – 23^rd – Men’s Ministry Road Trip – Sign up and pay at the Info Center

October 4^th – CLASS 101: Discovering Membership

October 19^th – 40 Days of Community

October 31st - Trunk or Treat (details are coming)