Weekly Update from the Senior Pastor
May 17, 2006 
Dear Family and Friends,
MAY 21 CELEBRATION: In the film Ben Hur, the day of the famous chariot race arrives, Masala (a bad guy) looks down the line of chariots and horses, and says to Ben Hur: "This is the day, Judah Ben Hur!" And the determined response comes back: "Yes, this is the day." Strong. Clear. Definite.
Let's do it! We're just three days away from May 21st-our Sunday celebration on our land. And weather-wise, the month of May is being May, but my clear word to you is: "This Sunday is the day, Damascus Road!" And your united response should be: "Yes, this Sunday is the day!"
Tomorrow, Thursday, by noon we will make a final call. If a tornado is brewing and we have to go inside, we'll send out another quick Update, post the decision on the website, alert team leaders and have a phone message. Otherwise, short of severe storm warnings, we're on the land on Sunday.
If we have a downpour that literally stops cars, we will still have just ONE SERVICE, still at 10:00 A.M. at our worship center. The first 350 people get chairs! The whole family will be together until the message begins, so we'll be packed in.
So plan for the land. But either way-this Sunday our one church service is at 10:00 a.m. That is definite :-)!
And either way-on our land or at our worship center we're going to party after church with a picnic and fellowship. There will be great meat and vegetarian entrees provided, bottled water and paper goods. Please bring your food on ice in a cooler with your name clearly marked on everything you want to take home and:
- If your last name begins with A-P - a salad,
vegetable or fruit dish to serve 15 people;
- If your last name begins with Q-Z - a dessert
(e.g. cookies, cupcakes, bars/brownies already cut ) - 24 to 30 pieces.
EVERYONE: Arrive at the land around 9:45 a.m. to park your car, then find a space to set up your lawn chairs. If it's a bit cloudy, bring umbrellas, but don't wimp out. We begin right at 10:00 a.m. and our theme will be Swords of Warfare and Stones of Passion-building homes of light as we face down the darkness. If you want your life to be part of something big for God-be there! We'll dream together about the building of our shared 'Home of Light' on our land, even while we continue the greater mission of learning how we can all create homes of Light, for: "You are the Light of the world" Matthew 5:14.
We'll end the service with building an "Ebenezer," a biblical monument honoring the way the Lord has lead us this far. You don't need to bring anything for that, we'll have the stones and the magic markers (for you to write on your stone) at the land; and we will create our first monument on our land at the base of the Cross.
If we wake up Sunday morning to a torrential downpour and it is impossible to get cars onto the land, we'll post the change of venue by 7:30 a.m. and plan to see everyone at 10:00 at the worship center.
So there you have it! I'll see you on the LAND this Sunday for a great day to honor God and dream about our future together-because we're just getting started and the best is yet to come!
Love ya,
Richard
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