This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://parksidejamie.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://parksidejamie.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Passover (Seder Meal)

You'll begin hearing about our upcoming Passover celebration (seder meal) in the coming week.  I'm really excited.  I've facilitated two of these events before and I can tell you that they are powerful reminders of the redemption story of God - both of the nation of Israel from the bondage in Egypt and our own story of freedom in Christ (which, by the way, correlates nicely with our Free series).  We're planning it for the Thursday evening before Good Friday (rather than a Good Friday service) because that was what Jesus would have experienced on Thursday night and we hope it will make Good Friday more memorable.

I like the seder meal because it evokes all of your senses; there are things that you see and hear (obviously) but also things that you touch, taste, and smell.  You sample a lot of different types of food that commemorate different parts of the exodus story.  You also enjoy an entire meal together celebrating the freedom of God.

I also like it because it is intergenerational - there is something for people of all ages.  Grandparents help "tell" the story.  Young kids search for bread in the room like an Easter egg hunt.  It's a great time.

We'll begin selling tickets this weekend.  You've got to make plans to attend.

Food Packing This Weekend

I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity that we have this weekend to pack 80,000 meals for people in Haiti.  What a great chance to actively participate in bringing relief to a nation that has been completely crippled and devastated.  I get even more excited when I think about the fact that the elements that will go into this Sunday were put in place long before the earthquake struck on January 12th.  By listening to God we were able to get ahead of the need.  And I know Parkside well enough to confidently say we'll continue to address the needs (in a very hands-on way) for years to come.

So let's celebrate together what God is doing this weekend through all of us at Parkside.  Both campuses will be pulling together to do something great.  Lots of us have invited friends and neighbors.  Talk with people in your circle of influence and come on out this Sunday.  See you then!

Salem Rd Campus: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
River Campus: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

A Quote I've Read Again Recently

I reread a quote recently that always strikes a deep cord within me.  This is an excerpt from The Present Future by Reggie McNeal:

The difference between planning and preparedness is more than semantics in the biblical teaching.  God does the planning; we do the preparing.  It is God who declares: "I know the plans I have for you," he says in Jeremiah 29:11.  He does not say, "I am waiting for you to develop plans I can bless."  I am not against planning.  I am just suggesting that there is a dimension beyond planning that is critical for us to understand.  We can settle for our imaginations, our plans, and our dreams.  In fact, I think the North American church has done just that.  We have the best churches people can plan and build. But we are desperate for God to show up and do something that only he can get credit for.  God wants us to pray and to prepare for his intervention.

God knows, we need it.

I pray about this for us at Parkside every day - that God would reveal His Kingdom to us rather than us trying to assert our kingdom on Him.

Farmer's Market in a Basket

This past week our family signed on with a local farm co-op.  Basically, we partner with 12-15 other people, pay $20 a month and get a basket filled with fruits and veggies.  This was our first week and I was well pleased with what $20 bought.

The Pants in the Family

I'm usually very skeptical about what I'm about to tell you.  It's like Publisher's Clearing House or something.  Does anyone ever REALLY win in that stuff?  Anyway...

My wife is very good (read that: VERY good) at being frugal and saving money.  She carries a three-ring binder filled with coupons to Kroger.  She reads blogs to know what deals are out there.  She's sharp, I'm telling you.  If Y2010K strikes, come on over to our stash in the basement.  We'll all live for quite a while.

She got word that Dockers was going to be giving out a free pair of pants to the first 2000 people who responded once their ad was shown during the Super Bowl.  2000 people isn't many when you think about a whole nation watching (arguable only 1 1/2 % knew about the gimmick ahead of time, but that's no matter here).  So my wife had completed the form and was trigger-ready as soon as she saw the commercial that night.

And we won!  That's right.  I now own a new pair of Dockers.  We actually received them yesterday, which might I add is very prompt on their part.  I've included a picture just to prove it's real.  Pretty cool, huh.  Thanks for letting me wear the pants, honey.

Outreach Leadership Team

I've had the opportunity to work with the leadership team of our Outreach Ministry for the last few months as they've collaborated on some big discussions.  They've worked very hard and the results are showing.

We launched the River Campus back in the fall of '09 in the East End/Columbia Tusculum neighborhood as a complement to over 25 years of ministry that has been going on in that area through the Outreach.  They've been a concrete way that the love of Jesus has been made known.  [If you've never volunteered at Outreach, I can't encourage you strongly enough to do so.]

Now that team is looking diligently at how they can deepen their ability to see movement in the lives of guests/clients and perhaps figure out a way to become more mobile (both to address crisis needs in other areas as they arise and to be able to go ahead of our next campus - whenever that happens).  The reconfiguration will mean that Outreach volunteers will be able to actually sit down with a guest/client and talk to them, both to get information about their immediate physical needs but also talk about spiritual needs and family concerns.  Since this process will require more room for people to sit down together and talk (currently all of the guests/clients are on one side of a counter), we'll need to rehab the building in which they meet.  [Another sidenote: If you're good with construction and want to lend a hand with the renovation, contact our office and let us know...we'll give you more information and connect with you once that project begins.]

They are also searching for a used, 14-ft box truck to replace the old yellow one that spent it's last gallon this past fall.  This truck will help with picking up food and operating the food and wellness operations.

While these changes are very important, I've more enjoyed seeing this team collaborate together and discuss how this one ministry more effectively makes disciples who make disciples (both with the guests/clients and with volunteers).  They model how effectively a team of Christ-followers can work together for the Kingdom when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.  Thanks, team.