Stand up and Speak Up

I ran across this video in an article from Pete Wilson.  It is a great illustration of what we talked about last week at MCC.  We looked at Acts 2 and how we need to redirect fame to Christ by standing up and speaking up.  Take a look at the video, and STAY IN THE RING!

(note:  evidently this guy was later sued for breech of contract)

Reminder:  This Sunday at MCC we continue the Acts series.  Bring your Bible and make sure to read through Acts 3 this week!

Recent Email: “Scot, you look stressed.”

Sunday at MCC, we started  new series called Acts.  It’s a look at the book of Acts (brilliant title for a series, don’t you think?)  A friend e-mailed me today.  She writes, I thought today as I was sitting several rows behind you, that your body language seemed very stressed even from the back.

My response:  “Heck yes!” I am usually wound pretty tight when it comes time for the sermon.  Why?

1.  This is serious business.  I still look around and wonder why they allow the bald guy to speak about God every week.  People listen as I represent the one who created us.  I seriously don’t want to mess that up. I don’t want to mislead people or misrepresent Christ.  That is a heavy thing.  Extremely heavy.

2.  People give me their time; and that is a precious gift.  Each week a ton of people stop and listen to what I have to say (which causes even more anxiety – see #1 above).  If you are going to give me 35-40 minutes of your week, I better have something good and accurate to say.

3.  Boring people with the Bible should be outlawed.  A boring presentation of the greatest story in the world is my nightmare.

4.  I value you.  I want you to know Christ better.  I want you to give your life to something bigger than yourself.  I want you to become the person God dreams you to be.  I want to make sure that you hear the message crystal clear without me getting in the middle of it.

There is much at stake, and it makes me nervous; and I think that is OK.  When I am so comfortable that I can walk up and teach totally calm with the thought that I know everything, well, you need to make for the exits. 

That being said, I am excited (and nervous) about our Acts series.  God has been revealing some great things to us through his word.  For Sunday, read Acts 2 and come and listen to what God has to say to you.  I’ll do my best not to look a bit uptight; but I can’t make any promises!

The Opening Band for Need to Breathe and Jars of Clay

So it happened like this:

1.  A ultra hip husband and wife call and invite Justin to open with some music and invite me speak at an event called “Elevate 2010”

2.  They explain that the headlining bands are Jars of Clay and Need to Breathe.

3.  They ask if we are interested.

4.  We say "Well, maybe we can make room in our schedule.”

5.  I polish up the teaching for the event.

6.  Justin puts together a band (including a bald acoustic guitar player).

7.  Justin writes some killer original tunes.

8.  The band practices like mad.

So, throw the kids and the lawn chairs in the SUV and head to Martinsville, IL (30 min West of Terre Haute on I-70).  Elevate kicks off at 6PM (Il time) on July 5. Tickets are available at the gate or on-line by clicking here.

Be sure to follow me on twitter or facebook for an inside look of the events of the day!

Note:  This is a festival-type event so bring blankets, chairs, etc (there is no seating).

Everybody Loves Raymon.

Meet Raymon.  He is waiting for a sponsor through Compassion International.  For $39 per month, Raymon can receive better nutrition, health care, education, and spiritual influence.  I have visited Compassion sites and I can tell you first-hand that your sponsorship literally changes the direction of life for kids.

Make Raymon part of your life, and change the world for one kid (and yourself).  To find out more about sponsoring Raymon, click here.

Name: Raymon Antonio Cardoza Valle (NI2420069)

Birthday:
August 30, 2005    Age: 4

Personal and Family Information:
Raymon lives with his father and his mother. At home, duties include running errands. His father is employed as a laborer and his mother maintains the home.
Soccer, playing ball games and running are Raymon’s favorite activities. In kindergarten his performance is average and he also regularly attends Bible class.
Your love and support will help Raymon to receive the assistance he needs to develop his potential. Please pray for him

ArtReach Exhibition

ArtReach: The Exhibition
June 15-17, 2010
Reception: Tuesday, June 15, 5-7pm
University Art Gallery, Indiana State University

The University Art Gallery of Indiana State University would like to announce the opening of "Art Reach: The Exhibition". The 3 day exhibition will feature work created by local artists who participate in the ArtReach program in down town Terre Haute. The exhibition includes works from all mediums and also will showcase quotes from it’s participants on what ArtReach mean to them.

There will be an opening reception on Tuesday, June 15, from 5-7pm. All events are free to the public and wheelchair accessible. The University Art Gallery hours for this event will be Tuesday 11am -7pm, Wednesday 11am -4pm, and Thursday 11am -7pm. Please contact Erin Caldwell, erin.caldwell@indstate.edu, with any further questions or visit www.artreachmcc.org for more information on ArtReach.

Above picture is from the Emily Brown collection.

Justin Hoeppner to Uganda

Check out this mug.  The more I get to know Justin Hoeppner and see his life, the more impressed I am by his authenticity and his heart for Jesus.  Justin is our Worship Arts Pastor at MCC.  He has songwriting, speaking, and recording credits a mile long.  In addition to that, he has been invited to open for Jars of Clay / Need to Breathe on July 5th.  (Click here for information and tickets to that event.)  In addition to that, Justin will be teaming up with me for a trip to Uganda in July of 2011. We will be teaching and leading worship for a National Pastors Conference as well as working in other ministries and churches while we are there.

Stay tuned for more details!

Rock Leo’s World

Meet Leo from Mexico.  How could you not like this kid?  Sporting the chuckie-T’s and waiting for over 6 months for a sponsor, you can change his world for $38 per month.  To find out more about sponsoring Leo, click here

Name:       Leo Isaac Hermosillo Jimenez (ME9490013)
Birthday:   August 2, 2006    Age: 3
Gender:     Male
Region:      Central America and Caribbean
Country:     Mexico
Program:    Amiguitos de Jesus Student Center

In his home, Leo helps by running errands. He lives with his father and his mother. His father is sometimes employed as a farmer and his mother maintains the home.

Soccer, playing with cars and hide-and-seek are Leo’s favorite activities. In kindergarten his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities and Bible class.

Your love and support will help Leo to receive the assistance he needs to develop his potential. Please pray for him.

Become a sponsor and put a smile on Leo’s face (and yours).

Easter Recap and What’s Next at MCC

What’s Next at MCC? from longyear on Vimeo.

Give life to Leydi this Easter

Leydi could use a miracle this Easter season.  She has been waiting for a sponsor with Compassion International for more than 6 months.  I bet her face will light up when a Compassion staff person says, “Leydi, you have a sponsor, and their name is ___________ (insert YOUR name here).

To sponsor Leydi, click here.  Whoever sponsors her, please let me know thru the contacts page!

Name:       Leydi Luzmeli Garcia Jerónimo
Birthday:     July 16, 2006    Age: 3
Gender:       Female
Region:        Central America and Caribbean
Country:      Guatemala
Program:      Emmanuel Student Center

Personal and Family Information:
Leydi lives with her father and her mother. Her duties at home include running errands. Her father is employed as a farmer and her mother is employed as a project worker.

Leydi is not attending school because she is too young. Playing with dolls, running and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends Bible class regularly.

Your love and support will help Leydi to receive the assistance she needs to develop her potential. Please pray for her.

Sponsor Leydi by clicking here.

Pastors: Join me in a Compassion International Vision trip to Kenya

 Last year I participated in a vision trip to Guatemala with Compassion International.  (I blogged about the trip here.)  During our time in Guatemala, I saw first-hand the work of Compassion.  We visited the homes of sponsored children and met the Pastors of local churches.  We literally saw how child sponsorship is changing lives and communities.  In partnership with a local church, a generation of Christ followers are being raised. 

My family and I have sponsored kids with Compassion for several years but seeing their work on the ground was amazing.  Compassion is one of the best run ministries I have seen.  I was so impressed with the work that I sponsored a 2nd child while I was there.

I am excited to partner with Compassion and am extending an open invitation to my Pastor friends to come with us to Kenya from Sept 20-29, 2010. 

Compassion International will be covering all trip expenses and travel details.

Requirements:

• Pastors (Sr Pastors, Mission Pastors, Executive Pastors) should be leading in churches of 1000 attendees
• Represented churches should not yet be deeply partnered with Compassion.

What’s the catch?  Obviously we want you and your church to partner with Compassion.  However, this is not a hard sell “you owe us since you went on this trip” deal.  We believe that once you see the work of Compassion, you will want to explore ways to partner with us. 

On this trip we will experience first-hand the ministry of Compassion, experiencing how Compassion works through the local church to holistically develop children through the Sponsorship Program. We will also meet students in their Leadership Development Program.

Here is a typical day from a Compassion Vision Trip:

Please feel free to pass this around.  Space is limited. 

For more details, email me (slongyear@gmail.com) or hit me thru the contact page.