For the last several weeks we have been promoting our "Serving Glenpool" day set for this coming Saturday, May 3rd. This day came about as a result of our 40 Days of Community study. During that study we were challenged to participate in a project that would allow us to work together as a group and at the same time benefit our community. It was a challenge to reach outside of ourselves and show God's love to the community in which we live by serving.

                Here is are a couple of acrostics for SERVE that might challenge you to get involved:

S- Surrender - your will to His

E- Endure - stay with it-- put forth continual effort

R- Radiate - Let Jesus shine through your life!

V- Vision - See that God is working

E- Encourage - Build others up

and

S- Seek- His Presence and Power- PRAY

E- Enlist- Sign-up to serve

R- Resources- Give/use what you have

V- Vacate- Leave the church/ get out of your comfort zone

E- Evaluate- How am I doing/ How are we doing?

                Serving is all about showing our Love for God by putting the needs of others above our own. We serve God by serving others and that is what "Serving Glenpool" is all about. We will gather at 9am at the Youth Annex for Breakfast fixed by our Men's Ministry. Then we will have a Kick-off Rally at 9:30am where we will hear again why we are doing this special day and giving folks an opportunity to decide exactly what project(s) they want to be a part of. Following the Rally we will then go 'Serve Glenpool' from 10am -3pm.

                Invite your friends and make plans to be a part of this exciting and service filled day! Make plans to be serve all day or maybe for an hour or two- whatever works-- just be a part of this 'Serving Glenpool Day!"  Let's put this verse into practice! Ephesians 6:7- "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."

                Here is a good Easter story for you that fits with the theme of our Easter Sunday Service.

                Alfred Henry Ackley was born in Pennsylvania in 1887. He showed great promise as a child, and his musician-father personally tutored him before sending him to New York City to study music. From there, it was on to the Royal Academy of Music in London. Alfred then returned to the States to attend Westminster Seminary in Maryland, and in 1914 was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. In 1932, while pastoring in California, Alfred met a Jewish man to whom he began witnessing. But the man resisted the Christian faith, saying, "Why should I worship a dead Jew?"

                That statement played on Alfred's mind as he prepared his Easter Sunday message. Rising early to prepare for the day, Alfred flipped on the radio as he shaved and was astonished to hear a famous liberal preacher in New York say: "Good Morning--it's Easter! You know folks, it really doesn't make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!"

                Alfred wanted to throw the radio across the room. "It's a lie!" he exclaimed. His wife rushed into the bathroom asking, "Why are you shouting so early in the morning?" "Didn't you hear what that good-for-nothing preacher said?" Alfred replied.

                That morning Alfred Ackley preached with great vigor on the reality of Christ's resurrection, and he did the same at the evening service. But later that night he was still exercised over his friend's question (Why should I worship a dead Jew?) and the morning's radio sermon. "Listen here Alfred Ackley," his wife said at last. "It's time you did that which you can do best. Why don't you write a song about it and then maybe you'll feel better?"

                Alfred went to his study, opened his Bible and re-read the Resurrection account from Mark's Gospel. A thrill went through him, and he began writing the words to "He Lives." A few minutes later he was at the piano putting it to music, not dreaming it would become one of the church's most triumphant Easter hymns.

                I serve a risen Savior. He's in the world today. I know that He is living; whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy. I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him. He's always near.

                In all the world around me I see His loving care; And though my heart grows weary I never will despair. I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast. The day of His appearing will come at last.

                Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing. Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King. The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find. None other is so loving, so good and kind.

                He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way! He Lives! He Lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart!

                Contrary to that New York Preacher it does make a difference that Jesus is risen! In fact it makes all the difference in the world! What a Difference a Day makes! Happy Resurrection Sunday!

                The week leading up to Easter Sunday is commonly called, Passion Week. If you were to take the time to read the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John you would learn that about one-third of those books are an account about passion week, Jesus' last week here on earth. As we journey to Easter, I pray it won't be just another Easter, but rather that it would be a time in which we reflect on all that Jesus did for us resulting in a rekindling of our passion to tell the world the true hope that Easter brings! I encourage you to spend some time reflecting on the various activities that took place during His last days and then to make a commitment to live differently as a result of what He did for you!

                The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday. We might call this the Day of Acclaim. It marks Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowd shouts "Hosanna- meaning (God help us we pray), Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" How long has it been since you shouted praise to the Lord and for the Lord?

                Monday might be called the Day of Authority. Here Jesus shows His authority by the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the Temple.

                Tuesday might be called the Day of Argument. Some say this was likely His longest day of ministry. He is questioned all day by the chief priests and teachers of the law. They asked Him things no one could answer except Jesus. Truth is they didn't like His answers. Sometimes we ask God questions and we don't like His answers either.

                Wednesday might be called the Day of Apartness. Jesus gets away for the day. He chose to have some seclusion- alone time, to spend some time with His disciples and to get some personal rest. Truth is we need to take some time to get alone with God and rest in Him. How long has it been?

                Thursday might be called the Day of Action. Jesus has Passover and Last Supper with His disciples, He washes their feet, predicts betrayal and Peter's denial. He walks through town to the Garden of Gethsemane and prays there in the garden. He is then arrested and begins to go through 2 trials, one a Jewish (religious- charge was blasphemy) and the other a Roman (Civil- charge was treason). One carried the penalty of stoning the other death by crucifixion.

                Friday might be called the Day of Agony. The trial continues and ultimately Jesus is sentenced to die by crucifixion. The same crowds that shouted 'Hosanna!' a few days earlier were now convinced to shout "Crucify Him!" Jesus is beaten, forced to carry His own cross and yet is faithful to His Father's will for His life as He dies on the cross for You and for Me!

                Saturday might be called the Day of Absence. Jesus' body has been placed in the grave and the people are observing the Sabbath.

                Then comes Sunday--- Easter--- might be, should be called the Day of Appearances! Jesus is Alive! He conquered death and the grave! What impact has this day in history had on you?

                Tune in Next Sunday as we will look at the difference a day makes as we celebrate Easter Together! 

                If you know me very well at all you know one of my passions in life is the game of golf. I have played the game for many years and enjoy every opportunity I get to go out and hit that little ball around the course. For the last 3 years I have had the privilege of helping coach the Glenpool high school golf teams. It's great to get to invest in the lives of these students. While working with them and watching them play, I can relate to their frustration when the swing isn't what we want it to be as well as the smile that comes on their face when they hit a great shot.

                As a golfer, there is nothing much better than the feeling of hitting the 'sweet spot' on the golf club. The 'sweet spot' is that place on the club that strikes the ball with maximum effectiveness and with little or no negative effect. It is where the golf shot is the most forgiving and most productive. Other sports, such as baseball and tennis, have 'sweet spots' as well, I just don't experience that feeling in those sports as often as I do in golf. Golfers like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson can swing with tremendous force and yet make it look so effortless. One reason is that these guys are good, but another reason is because they consistently hit the 'sweet spot.'
                Have you ever stopped to think that God made you with a 'sweet spot?" He made you with a purpose and He gifted you to fulfill that purpose. Your 'sweet spot' is that place where you are both effective and efficient in your service to the Lord. People tend to notice your special ability to do something or to handle a situation. Understand that when you serve others within your 'sweet spot' you are being the most productive you can be because you are being true to who God made you to be. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV) One person said, "Your 'Serving Sweet Spot' is where your God-given strengths and passions intersect. And you will know you have hit a sweet spot when your service becomes effective, easy and effortless all at the same time." May the Lord find us looking for and serving together in our 'sweet spot.'