With that in mind I thought I would pass on a few ways that you can get involved working right here in Lexington in an effort to show God’s love while also doing your part to end poverty. This list is by no means exhaustive and if you have other ways that you can have been involved or know that people can be then please share them in the comments section.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!

Elkhorn Baptist Association – This association of churches in Lexington is involved in numerous mission projects throughout Central Kentucky. Projects include weekly hot meals and sack lunch programs, a Christmas Toy Project, Souper Bowl Party, and many many more. For more information contact: Sandra Williams at: Sandra@elkhorn.org or (859) 254-7747

Irishtown Ministries – Provide ministry to a downtown Lexington community in need. Run through the Elkhorn Association, services are provided to the underprivileged ranging from church services to meeting basic life needs. For more information contact: Pamela Pyle at PamelaPyle7@yahoo.com or (859) 254-7747

Ronald McDonald House - contact Travis Goodyear, Operations Manager at 859-268-0757 or e-mail tgoodyear@rmhclexington.com

Lexington Rescue Mission – Christian ministry that works on serving the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of those in Lexington.

Contact (859) 381-9600 for more information.

Room In the Inn - is a seasonal winter shelter for homeless men of the Lexington area. Immanuel serves as a location for this ministry. Contact Jim Sparks if you have any questions or concerns. Ph: 533-5831 or email: jsparks@trane.com.

Salvation Army – Program involved with many ministry opportunities in the area. For an extensive list of these go to www.salvationarmy-lex.org

Hope Center – Homeless Ministry located in downtown Lexington. For ways to get involved go to: http://www.hopectr.org/volunteer/volunteer.htm

ANY OTHER ONES?

August 3 : SNAC Night at Champs! — We will be playing Laser Tag over at Champs from 7:30 - 9:30. Cost is $5. That $5 dollars will help cover 2 games of laser tag. If you wish to play more in that time the cost is an additional $5 per game. And as usual : Girls bring the sweets, Guys bring the drinks.

August 10: 5th Grade Promotion Sunday!! This will be during the 10:15 timeslot. Please make all of the incoming 6th graders feel welcome.

August 10: SNAC Night at the Degler’s: For our final SNAC night of the summer we will be having a cook out/swimming party at the Degler’s home from 7:00 - 9:30. The Degler’s live at 4209 Forsythe Drive. Directions will be handed out that Sunday Morning during Sunday School. Girls bring the sweets, guys bring the drinks!

COLLISION!! : COLLISION will be starting back up Sunday August 17th!! More details to come!

Along with all of these things please remember that we have Sunday School every Sunday morning at 10:15 in the Summit. On Wednesday nights we are having Mosaic in the Summit from 6:15 - 7:15. We hope to see you there!

Dear Friend –

My oldest child is a senior in high school and is preparing to go off to college. He tells me the Bible says not to have sex outside your marriage once you are married but it is ok to have sex before you are married. Is this true?

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Dear Friend,

My middle schooler is really having a hard time making friends. One of the reasons he is finding it so difficult is that he is seen as a nerd because he prays before he eats his lunch at school. The kids at school know he goes to church on Sundays and he has invited them to church but no one will ever come. Now he says he is tired of going to church, and if it is going to keep him from having friends then Christianity is just not worth it. What should I do?

Photo credit: Wim Mulder

Physicians in a group practice will often designate one physician of the group to be the “on-call” physician for the day. The on-call physician will leave gaps in his schedule in order to accommodate patients that call in sick and need to be seen that day.

Living your life as if you were on-call may be a better way to live. Leaving time in your schedule for unexpected interruptions/opportunities is wise. When Moses saw the burning bush I am glad he had time to “go over and see this strange sight”. When raising teenagers life is going to be a time of constant interruptions. Discipline yourself not to pack your days full of activity. Being available will allow you the time to pick up on things your kids are struggling with. Kids need wise parents that are on-call ready to help with Godly wisdom. How do you feel when you are sick and the physicians’ office tells you they have no openings until tomorrow or the next day? Do your kids get an equivalent response from you when they call for help?

Photo Credit: Laurence Shan

David was friends with Jonathan when Saul was King of Israel.  Jonathan died before David became King, and David wanted to honor Jonathan by honoring somone in his family.  That is why David asks Ziba about Mephibosheth and brings Mephibosheth to Jerusalem.

But I want to focus on everyone’s attitudes in this story.  David’s focus was that Mephibosheth was a descendent of Jonathan and honoring him.  Ziba brings up in verse 3 that he is lame in both feet, as if that would matter somehow.  In verse 4, however, David doesn’t even acknowledge what Ziba said.  Instead, David just asks where Mephibosheth is and says to bring him to Jerusalem.  Even Mephibosheth asks in verse 8 why David would be interested in him, but David stays focused on what he wants to do.  In a final irony, David has Ziba’s family take care of Mephibosheth and his land.

As you read this story, ask yourself what attitude you have toward yourself and toward others.  Are you like David, who focuses on the kindness he wants to do for someone regardless of who they are?  Or are you like Ziba, who has a hard time seeing someone for who they really are?  Or maybe you are in Mephibosheth’s position — because of something that has happened to you, you don’t understand why others will want to show kindness to you?  What attitude should you have?

The Garmin is a useful tool for getting to places. Sometimes the Garmin will lay out a certain route but I think there is a better route so I ignore the Garmin and go my own way. This is how I think God is more like a navigator than a co-pilot. God has given me direction in my life through bible study, prayer, relationship, etc. Sometimes I chose to follow his way and sometimes I choose not to follow his way because you see I am the pilot of my life. When I choose not to follow God’s way, God like the Garmin, will begin “recalculating” my life, laying out a route to get me back where I need to be, but again it is my choice.

In raising kids I believe it is important for them to develop the ability to listen to God. We need to teach them they worship God my making good decisions. I believe God is greatly pleased when people choose to follow the path (navigated routes) he has laid out for them. Our job, as the pilots of our life, is to decide whether we will listen to our navigator or if we will go our own way.

 Photo Credit:  mdumlao98

Fathers, let me ask you a few questions.

What are you doing to make sure your daughter does not act like this when she is with her boyfriend?

Have you modeled for her the way a man treats a women?

How do you sacrifice for your wife?

How do you speak to your wife?

How do you respect your wife?

Do you compliment your wife?

Your daughter is watching. She is learning from you now how she can expect to be treated some day by her husband. Show her what a true rock of love looks like. The Bible gives us the framework in Ephesians 5:25-33.

Photo Credit: Jim Frazier

(ht: gavoweb)