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Here’s the link to the 2nd lesson in our Simplexity Summer Study series. Mike, our XP, is on this week so it will be good. I had some time off this past week. It’s kinda my deep breath before the rush of the next 4 weeks. Greg is taking a sabbatical and I am up to teach 3 weeks in a row. I’m jazzed about that along with 3 of the remaining Summer Study sessions. It’s kinda like my marathon of teaching. It’s lots of fun AND exhausting. I’ve learned that the best time for me to take vacation is not in the summer but actually in September as everyone else is getting back into the swing of things I’m ready for a break. And then I’m ready to go again.

Waiting to fire up the grill for a little post-4th get together with some friends so I thought I would write a brief post about the movie Apocalypto which I just saw last night. We don’t make it to the movies very often unless it is a kids movie so with most movies I have to wait until DVD. This one written, directed and produced by Mel Gibson is about one man’s attempt to save his wife and children after being taken captive by the Aztecs. Set in the time before the discovery of these people it is on a much grander scale about the end of one world as a new one begins. Let me warn you that it is in Gibson fashion (Braveheart, Passion of the Christ) ultra violent, but if you can stomach it, it is worth a view. Lots of action and a storyline to make you really care about the lead character. One theme that comes out is the desire of the lead character to start “a new beginning” after losing everything. It reminded me of how a new beginning really only happens after you lose something. Last week Greg taught on Jesus’ hard words that you have to lose your life in order to find it. Losing life is never easy, but the life on the other side is so worth it.

Last Saturday we had a team return from Suncrest’s 7th trip to Louisiana. Click here for pics. Our work in that area will always remain dear to my heart as I had opportunity to help with the very first trip one month after Hurricane Katrina tore through Louisiana and other states and participate in subsequent trips. I have seen God do so many amazing things on those trips in the lives of those who have went and the lives of those we served. Here is what one participant wrote after the last trip:

“Thirteen Suncrest members just returned from a week in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, where we hung drywall, painted, and roofed a house. We saw lots of homes that had been destroyed, and met several people who have been living in small FEMA trailers for almost two years waiting for their houses to be rebuilt. Some homes have been completely gutted, some have been abandoned. Other homes are in every stage of demolition or reconstruction.

Every single home and business in the parish (county) was damaged. We heard stories of people left homeless on the highway for days after evacuation. We saw homes with huge piles of trash in front–all of their personal belongings.

We also saw the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, and the hand of God at work. Please take a moment to thank God for all you have, all He has blessed you with, and also to pray for the victims of Katrina. Some are suffering from depression, as you would expect. Some are still paying on mortgages for homes that no longer exist. Marriages are under stress. The aftereffects go on and on. Also pray for the pastors and churches in the area, that they might show God’s love and be a light in a dark place.”

I can only say Amen to her appeal for prayer! While our lives have gone on like normal so many lives have not returned to normal yet. If you are interested in going on the next mission trip to Louisiana click here to check out Suncrest’s mission page.