Sabbath lunch, anyone?

Pastor Cork just sent out this link discussing perhaps one of the largest overlooked portions of our church congregations. Check out “The Invisible Majority” in the Adventist Review.

If you attend a church in an area with a university, pay special attention to young visitors who step through your doors. Scan the congregation and greet those you don’t know. An invitation to lunch can go a long way toward making a college student feel at home in a foreign environment. It’s not just a nice thing to do; it’s a responsibility we have to one another.

And btw, our first ACF Houston event was an awesome start to something great. We had students and young adults from 3 Houston area churches, and the only thing missing was you.  If you are in Houston, attending a public school, we see you.  ACF Houston has a place ready and waiting for you!

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The Adventist Stevie Wonder

A chill came over me and my eyes started to water.  Perfect peace.  The words of hymns and sincere song flowed down my ear canal and gripped my heart with joy.  Music may make you tap your feet, clap your hands, or nod your head, but sometimes it transforms and moves you.  The jazz and soulful feel of his music is unique in our church, and that’s why during the announcements the phrase “Adventist Stevie Wonder” caught my attention.  Last night as we closed the Sabbath, Neville Peter ministered to the congregation through music that soothes the soul. 

Neville Peter is blind and has a unique story revealing his personal testimony of conversion.  When he sings, “I was blind, but now I see” the thought of a blind man fervently praising God with those words seems ironic.  Hearing him sing and hearing his story cement that declaration as no joke.  Beyond his touch of the keys, and beyond his soulful voice…there is a story of how God so graciously brings us home and how disABILITY can often bring life more abundantly.

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A thing of beauty, part 2

The heavy doors of the Byzantine Chapel swung shut behind me, sealing the cool air inside the building. All at once, I was back out in the infamous Houston humidity. As I made my way to my car, a figure danced into my periphery. Turning to the left, I noticed a young man using his bike to carve lazy circles in the parking lot. For some unknown reason, I became apprehensive. I don’t know why – it was bright daylight, a Friday afternoon, and I was in a quiet, well-to-do neighborhood. Something inside me hoped that he wouldn’t talk to me. But of course, he did. The man slowly rode up to me and gave me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“I just got a new bike,” he said, “and I thought I’d bring it over to show Jesus.”
“That’s odd,” I thought. This guy must be nuts. No one takes his or her belongings to “show Jesus”. Besides, this is just a building. Maybe he’s Catholic and the relics actually mean something to him.

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