the Journey

Shout out to the good people at Fire Station No.1 & No.2

Today we met the good men and women of Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2 in downtown Birmingham. We've worked with The Birmingham Baptists before, partnering with them for various projects around town (Metro Changers, Thanksgiving projects, etc.). About two months ago, they proposed to have "some" church adopt every fire station and police precinct in the city. The church would pray for the men and women of those precincts/ stations, regularly visit them, etc...

So, today we went to serve the people at Fire Station No. 1- and they invited No. 2 to come along. And, yes, we took The Trailer with us : )

I was humbled at how gracious and honoring these people were- to us. They changed from their "blue t-shirts," which would have been fine with us, into the collared shirts with pins and badges...

My family and I arrived about 45 minutes early, after finishing a late Pancake House breakfast (I take Wednesdays off, so that's what we do...), and were greeted by a firefighter named Alan, who took us around the building, showed us trucks...

Two of his partners allowed our kids to try on the boots and pants and jackets...

The mom of the house, Elisa, who doubles as a grandmother of 5 in our off time, took my kids for a tour of the bunk house, the living room, and the large kitchen. She even snitched to them that, ironically, one station had a kitchen fire while food was left burning when they went to put out another fire.

After a moment, I saw why, though. As we were feeding the 45 or so of them that were there, the sirens went off. Truck #1 was called away- and I saw men immediately jump out of line to prepare to leave. Turned out to be a false alarm. They were going to help free someone trapped in a car, and that person made it out. So, we got to see the engines crank up, the lights go on... but the trucks never had to leave the station. Whatever the case, they'll drop what they're doing to go serve someone else- even if that means leaving food on the table- or the grill.

I'm honored that we have such good people serving us. There were many men I have never met who were so gracious and attentive to us... there were others I've probably met at the weekly wreck at the intersection where our warehouse sits on 24th and 3rd...

All good people...all, if you read the Bible, ordained by God to do what they are doing.

Interested in more? We'll go back regularly... as in each month or so...And, we'll be visiting the local police precincts with our friend Police Chief Roper very soon, too. Check back for times- and feel free to join us.

Until then, pray for them. They spent 24-hour a day shifts away from their family while helping people with seizures, assisting people who have just had car accidents... 85% of their calls are emergency medical calls, I learned... And, yes, they still put out fires. Whatever the case, they are the front lines, many times, serving the people of our city when they must need help.

Prayer transforming the city? Video post

Here's a great snippet of the Prayer Force United Ministry that we've been involved with since the June prayer walk in Southtown. I believe the continued prayer is responsible for opening doors there... and, I believe that it's having a major factor in the drop in crime in our city. 

There's still much work to be done. Enjoy the 7-minute video- and come join us in Wylam on Saturday, October 17th. 

Preview, tonight, at The Village... Your sins are hidden in Christ...

Tonight at The Village, I have the opportunity to teach... each week I have the privilege to lead the men in opening the Scriptures and diving into the core curriculum. 

Right now, we're in the class called "The Gospel of Grace," a 10-week or so look at the depths of the basics (I know, confusing but intentional phrase there). Here's things you can review if you would like:

The notes for tonight (with the answers): Download 04 Your sins hidden- PDF

The notes, without the answers: Download 04 Your sins hidden- blanks- PDF

The slideshow, printed in pdf format: Download 04 Your sins hidden- slideshow- PDF

The slideshow- in Quicktime. Click on it to advance the slides: Download 04 Your sins hidden- slideshow

Enjoy!

By the way, you can catch the ongoing notes and audio on the dedicated page we have set up for this.

Prayer Walk Opportunity on Saturday

[Posted by Michael Catoe]

Prayer Force United is having another Prayer Walk THIS Saturday, the 18th, in the Woodlawn Area.  

The proof is in the praying...where Light resides darkness MUST flee.  The crime rate in Birmingham is already dropping.  It is time to continue the fight for God's people AND His land.   

When the people of God have one vision and are on the same page as the Bride of Christ, much can be accomplished as we serve Jesus...

SO, for you prayer walkers...Here is the info.

Where: Open Door Outreach Church

Location: 125 57th Street North Birmingham, AL 35212 (or click address for GoogleMaps)

When: Saturday, July 18 @ 8:30 am - arriving early to be the heat of the day!!! Click HERE for agenda of day.

If you need more info, just e-mail the Downtown Church...

Handmade Sale (Take 2)

[by Michael Catoe]

Due to the scary stormage on Friday p.m. that continued unto Saturday a.m., the Handmade Sale is going for a "redo."  Maybe we'll call it Handmade Sale Ver 6.19. 

The times and location are the same...it'll just be THIS Friday...the 19th.

SO, June 19th from 8 am to 2 pm is the Handmade Sale

Click HERE for your directions to the coolest sale in town. 

[We made it easier for the guys to have an excuse not to be there since most will be at work...even though they would be WAY cooler if they did go to the Handmade Sale!!]

THIS SATURDAY

There are two events happening this Saturday, but don't fret.  You can make it to BOTH!

The Handmade Sale is happening from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Crestwood area (click Crestwood for directions).  Lindsey Dixon is heading this up and it is going to be a grand ole time...no opery involved.  If you have more questions, you can e-mail her at lindsey.jadwick@alumni.clemson.edu.

Southtown Prayer Walk is on June 20, but we are handing out flyers THIS Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  This will be a chance to meet with the residents of Southtown and start those relationships...We are meeting up @ Southtown and will be handing out flyers.  If you need more info you can e-mail our dreadlocked buddy, Tyler @ tyler@welcometothevillage.net.

We'll see you Saturday!!!

Make a Difference: one day/ 9 projects

Last night was our final planning meeting about an event that will occur this weekend. This Saturday, 4/4, is the first of many service projects over the year. We'll meet at Marconi Park- the corner of 24th Street North (same street as our warehouse- just over the RR tracks) and 5th Street North... go there and follow the signs. We're serving the local community by partnering to help the people who are already there do what they are currently doing.

Often, Christians feel that we must go in and create our own "Christian" version of everything- we have Christian t-shirts, Christian bumper-stickers, Christian bookstores, etc...  Really, the only thing that can be "Christian" is people- not places, things, and items.

So, we have looked downtown. And, we see there are many people working who are already connected to the local community. Some of them are Christian; most of them aren't. But, they all want our help-- and they all know that we come serving in and proclaiming the name of Jesus. 

We hope to see you Saturday, April 4th, 8 am... (more info on the D2MDif website).

New church to meet at the warehouse!

Just a heads up... over this next week, a new congregation will be meeting out of our space in the warehouse. In fact, this adventure begins, in part, tonight!

We've said that we want to use this place 24/7 (which we've been doing)- and that we want it to be open for God's Kindgom, not just for our "church." Here's one way in which that will happen...

A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting William Wilson (You can read more about him on his website here). I had even contemplated having him speak at some sort of men's gathering, etc... 

Interestingly enough, he and I shared a few meals together over the past year- and I always thought that, at some point in the future, we would partner together- in some capacity. I wasn't sure how that would work, given our propensity to do things differently and adapt and change quickly... and his intentional commitment to the liturgy. In some ways, we were alike; in other ways, we were different.

A few weeks ago, a gentleman walked into our warehouse and inquired about the space- for a new church downtown.  After speaking for a moment, and mentioning we would be glad to help them, I asked him the name of the pastor...

"William Wilson," he replied. Alas, it was my old friend.

Christ Anglican Church is the congregation that will be utilizing our space in the afternoons / evenings- and other times as they need it. I am looking forward to the blessing they are going to be- as they work side by side, laboring with us downtown. 

FYI, their informational meetings are as follows, per their website: Wednesday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 28, at 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 5, at 2:30 p.m." Worship services will start soon thereafter.

mind-dump- week of March 22, 2009

So, I didn't get this out there last week- probably due to the crazy week that was that week. And, isn't every week turning into that, now? It seems so...

Anyway, here's a few things on the radar for now:

* I'm posting a shot of this car I took while in Southtown to remind you to keep praying about Southtown- it is still our intent to move the worship services out of our building and place one of them towards that area (if not right, smack-dab in the middle of it, again!). Keep praying.

* Be praying about the possible thrift store. This is the week in which we should hear something back on that. If/when this is a go, we will have a venue to raise money for ministry, as well as hire more people and funnel donations through The Village. We don't have to sell everything- we can give away as much as we want. That will be a major part of what we do there. Especially right now while so many people are in need.

* I hope to be able to post pics of the above soon. For now, they're sitting eagerly on the iPhone, waiting to be tweeted, facebooked, and blogged out.

* This weekend was nuts. Everything was sailing very smoothly until about 5:00 pm on Friday- at which point we to deal with a rogue Villager, had to actually send another guy to prison... Saturday was nuts, too... completely un-work-related... but, just nuts. I knew it was a frustrating case of spiritual warfare due to what I would be teaching this Sunday. And, of course, Sunday morning was nuts... all leading up to the sermon time, at which point... gee... talk about distractions! New batteries going dead, kids lighting it up...

* God was still good. And, despite all of that... His word went out and I believe that many people were healed. I lost it and began crying on the front row, as I was sitting quietly. Rodney was playing his music, many of the church members were praying for healing for others in the room that stood wanting prayer... and two of the guys from The Village came up to me and said they had just led another guy to saving faith. It was an incredible moment- as I listened to them, while sitting and listening to another guy singing his own praise songs in prayer to Jesus with everything else that was going on. God is good! And He is gracious!

* I have posted the notes from the sermon online. It's not really a script, it's just a free-thought version of my mental process as I pray through the Scripture. I hope it helps. The audio will be up later on.

* Pray for Rob this week. He's been knocking it out at The Village, working long hours. So, we're kicking him out this week. He's taking a much-needed mandatory vacation to a little monastery somewhere in Cullman to hang with the monks for a few days and recharge. He'll be even more of a powerhouse when he comes back later this week. 

* Rob and I were able to lead another guy to faith tonight at 10:00 pm. Awesome!

* Get the A Day to Make a Difference updates. We have a few meetings this week, as well as a new website up for that event(s). Looking forward to it.

* Another local church, Mosaic, has joined the foray into this, too. Kris Broadhead, the pastor there, has gotten to be a friend- and I look forward to working with him, and them, for the long haul.

* Check this: another church will start meeting in our facility this week. I'll give you some more details about that in the blog post on Wednesday of this week. It's a liturgical, traditional thing that's led by some great people that I've known for a while. Looking forward to working with them for the long haul, as well.

* OK... the week between 4/4 (A Day...) and Easter (which falls on 4/12) will be a week of prayer and ministry at Park Place. I will shoot a video this week (hopefully today?) that we can play soon, post sooner, and help explain what's going on during that time. We're going to flat-out need your help!!!

* Final thought: really excited that this year for Easter we're throwing a party and inviting the neighborhood to come. Shouldn't Easter be the biggest celebration of the year? Really excited that we'll be baptizing at that event, too!