Blood Drive

Got this message from Trish about the upcoming blood drive:

Jason, We lost track of time and didn't realize the blood drive was so soon. They scheduled us for Wednesday, 8/4 from 2:30 to 7:30. Mike and I are on vacation up in Ohio with the family for the next two Sundays. People can email mike@earhartbunch.com if they want to donate. Thanks and God Bless, Tricia

HELP!!!

I just got a call from Betsy Hightower. A neighbor of theirs lost their house to a fire on July 4. They lost everything and are struggling.

Betsy has asked if we could have a "pound party" for them. They need staple food and supplies. If you can bring something extra for them (a pound of sugar, flour, etc.) this Sunday, Bud and Betsy will take it to them. Really, any food or items to stock up on may be helpful for them.

Gift cards to Kroger/Wal-Mart may be helpful as well.

Five people called this house their home--one grandmother, two adults (male and female), one middle-school boy, and one teenage boy. They've lost everything and need our help!

Thanks!
Jason

Urgent Prayer Request

I just got this tonight from Anne Foster:

Hi Jason,
My sister, Cathi has been fighting Peritoneal Cancer and has just started her third series of chemo. Last night she was admitted into the hospital where they found a tumor that is obstructing the bowels. She will be having surgery to correct this problem. It is a very serious surgery.
I know how wonderful the folks at Castle Christian are and the power of their prayers. I will keep you updated on Cathi's progress. Thank you so much. Anne Foster

Then later:

Hi Jason,
Since I have written to you, my sister Cathi's Dr had been in to see her and said the tumor was inoperable. She will be in Northside Hospital, Atlanta, until Friday and send home with a home health nurse.
Thank you for your continued prayers. Anne Foster

Let's pray!

Great Book

Hey everyone,

I haven't done this kind of thing for a while, but I want to share a great book I just finished. I'm really excited about it because it's one of the best books on Christianity I've ever read.

The book is N.T. Wright's Simply Chrisitian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. If you click on the picture you can go to the book on Amazon.com.

Thanks!

Jason Rodenbeck

This Coming Sunday

Hey everyone,

I've already received a couple of questions to go over this Sunday. So far it looks like the line-up is this:

One question regarded violence in the O.T. and harmonizing it with our reading of the non-violence of Jesus. We went over that in our LAST Q & A after the Beatitudes sermons, but it would be good to review.

The second regards the passage that was brought up last week, specifically Luke 22:36. In this passage, Jesus does tell his disciples to buy a sword. We're going to talk about why this Sunday.

I am interested in talking about how Christians must love and serve and honor those who have served in the military. I want to address that this Sunday.

I am also considering a brief look at the notion of "just war" reasoning. We may not get to all of these, but we should get started.

As we did last Sunday, it may occur to us to have an open-forum kind of discussion.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Jason

Doris Richardson

Got this update about Doris:

Doris is doing okay. They feel like they got all of the cancer, but it was quite deep so she is still finding it hard to sit for long. Here are pictures of their new great grandbaby, Lucien Abraham Morris.

Q & A

This Sunday (the 30th) we began a discussion about the non-violent teaching of Jesus. The message ended with some lively discussion. It was GREAT! And we are going to continue that discussion next week. I already have a couple of questions to formulate answers on and we will most likely have some open-ended discussion again as well.

If you missed on Sunday, you NEED to check out the message on our podcast. Be sure to download the podcast on iTunes OR go HERE to listen from our website. That message was titled "What is the Atonement?"

If you would like to submit a question, please just respond to this emailed post. Or send a message to jason@castlechristian.com!

Thanks, and we'll see you next Sunday!

Jason