STRETCHING MAKES ME PUKE

After sharing the message on Vision Sunday on how God is calling us to STRETCH the tent curtains wide, I got stretched literally the next day.  Met up with a couple of guys from church to start a workout routine and all we did was mostly stretching exercises.  Barely made it home for a quick shower and just knocked out.  The result: couldn't do all the reps, almost puked, almost passed out, sore two days later.  

When we stretch, we will be more vulnerable.  

When we stretch, we will be uncomfortable, unfamiliar

When we consistently stretch, we will be more flexible, pliable, and agile. 

When we stretch, we are trusting the process not looking for immediate results but transformation over time. 

Oh, was I talking about what my body will go through?  No, I was talking about out our minds, hearts, and lives.  If it's not costly, uncomfortable, or difficult it probably lacks the capacity to add value to your life. Let's not look for the safe easy way. Take the road less traveled. Get ready to be stretched and watch yourself get stronger in God and Him do amazing things in, for, and through your life. 

STRETCH!

Enjoy The Ride, 

Pastor Cee

Ground Zero The Threshing Floor

I can still remember being at work that morning and hearing the news spread across the office in suburban Long Island.  Turned on the televisions to witness something so loud cause such silence. I left from there to my college campus and caught up with a group of friends and just spent the day there watching all of it unfold.  In a distance from SJU, you could see the smoke billowing up in the air.  So close yet so far.  My mom, who works in downtown NYC, spared from that tragic scene because she was sick and didn't go into work that week.

For all those that were affected by the events of 9/11/2001, even if the world, your country, your fellow citizen, your leaders, might only remembers you on the anniversary, I know a KING that sees you, hears you, knows you, and loves you every moment of your life.  Look to Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords! He is your healer, redeemer, friend, counselor, friend, and Savior.

God can transform your ground zero, your threshing floor, into a place of freedom, deliverance, and joy!  Give Him a chance!

I / YOU to I __ YOU PRINCIPLE

The Holy Spirit revealed this little nugget while meditating on Matthew 25:31-46.  

Jesus challenges and encourages us to be righteous and live out the faith we have in Him.  There is a day coming that there will be a time of separation based on not only what we believe but how we lived out what we believe.  Faith without works is dead.  

Jesus might not appear to us everyday in the same silhouette or portrayal we have seen in Passion of Christ, images, wall decor, etc... He just might decide to appear in disguise.  Jesus might show up in the form of a hungry child, a thirsty man, a stranger, a "naked" person, a sick mom, or a person in "prison".  The obvious is taking the literal and responding accordingly.  We must do the practical of welcoming these "Jesus in disguise" people into our schedule and circumstances.

If you allow me to dig a little further, I believe we are to welcome these situations because there is a deeper desire that needs to be met.  

I / YOU Principle ... There might be a wall (/) of fear, hesitancy, ignorance, separating the "I" and the "YOU".  

"I" am Hungry / "YOU" can offer the Bread of Life.  His life-changing and satisfying Word.
"I" am Thirsty / "YOU" can offer hope.  Hope that reaches out & holds on to Jesus. 
"I" am a Stranger / "YOU" can offer a home, the church. The place to crash, stay, grow, belong!
"I" am Naked / "YOU" can offer a covering called respect, dignity, and restoration. 
"I" am Sick / "YOU" can offer prayer, comfort, help, healing in the name of Jesus. 
"I" am in Prison / "YOU" can offer freedom from the chains of Satan by the blood of Jesus.  

Some of us are the "I"s!  Some of us are the "YOU"s! What is the catalyst that transforms...

I / YOU 

to

I __ YOU

Just staring at that line screams out one word...

I LOVE YOU!

The catalyst is LOVE!  Jesus is telling us to bring down the wall (/) and lay down our pride and self and let LOVE flow (___) out from us into the people & situations around us.  

He is teaching, commanding, encouraging, challenging us to LIVE OUT LOVE!  We do it because one day we were the "I"s and a "YOU" lived out love.  We do it because Jesus let His love flow into our lives and it must flow out of us.

So when Jesus shows up in disguise this week, please know that our response will have eternal impact for you and them alike.  LIVE OUT THE LOVE we received!

Enjoying The Ride, 

Pastor Cee

Children's Day at CWS

The kids here caught the bug. We believe in and will celebrate children and the next generation.

Honored and privileged to announce a very special person as the speaker for Children's Day ... Sheena Mathew (she promised she won't cry).

Come out with the whole family and celebrate what God is doing!

WYSIWYG

Do I wear my heart on my sleeve? Yes.

Does it hurt sometimes? Yes.

Does it help sometimes? Yes.

Is it taken advantage of at times? Yes.

Is it ignored at times? Yes.

Is it seen as being naive? Possibly.

Do I wish to control it?  Yes.

Do I realize this is who God made me to be? Yes

What you see is what you get!

I rather be transparent than "shady".

Be who God created you and is transforming you to be.  Remember that its all for Him and His glory.  If not, you'll live and die an unhappy, ungrateful, and empty person.  Honor Him and He will honor you!

Enjoy The Ride,

Pastor Cee