A Successful Outreach/Fundraiser

In all the hustle-bustle of the Christmas season, perhaps nowhere is as crowded and crazy as the local shopping mall. Parking spaces are at a premium, and the lines are long at cash registers as everyone tries to get their last few gifts bought.

Severn River Church participated in an outreach/fundraiser for the last two nights at Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie, in which we wrapped gifts for harried shoppers--mostly men--for a small fee. It gave us a chance to raise some funds for some local missions projects that are coming up this year, as well as gave us some exposure to holiday shoppers who might just be searching for a church as well as the perfect gift!

We raised a little over $300 dollars in two nights, and certainly got exposure to dozens of shoppers who used our services. I was pleased with the results, mainly because of the support of the people who made it happen. I want to thank Lori Mullins, a friend who works at the mall and offered us this opportunity; I'm tremendously grateful to our faithful church members who took orders, wrapped gifts, and encouraged business in many ways: Drew and Jennifer Harrah, Ryan and Meghan Larson, Scott and Terri Poe, Scott Schuler, and Ben Rainey, Sr. I especially appreciate Pastor Ben and Corie who helped lead this activity, since my work schedule didn't allow me to be there the whole time.

The Angel Choir

I remarked to a friend this week that I find children singing to be the most beautiful sound in the world. I love how pure and innocent they sound; it's just delightful to see a child sing--especially one who is serious and passionate about his song.

It makes me think . . . if I were God summoning the angels to sing out the good news of Christ's birth, I'd make their voices sound like children. I'd fill the heavens with that sound so clear and uncontaminated.

I wonder what it actually sounded like.

Good News Gets Shared!

I have been offered a new job, starting in 2010, as the director of the Towson Y preschool. I appreciate those of you who were job references for me during my job hunt, and those of you specifically who have stood with me in prayer for a permanent career job.

I've been blessed for the past few months to work 20+ hours a week for a wonderful boss and crew of staff members at Therapy Solutions in Severna Park. It's been so great working there, that I am recommending the job to any of you who are looking or know someone looking. The job here is 2-8 pm Mon.-Thurs, and 12-6 pm on Fridays. It's a fairly easy receptionist job, with the rewards of seeing children all day as they come in for therapy. I've enjoyed the conversations with my fellow colleagues and the parents in the waiting room; this job has seemed more like a group of friends. If you (or someone you know) is interested, please give me a call or email me.

However, I'm excited to move on to a job that is suited to me personally and professionally. I'm being offered some good benefits, and I hope to be a benefit to the Y organization as a whole once I begin working there in January.

God and Television

On many television shows, a relationship or belief in God is a common theme. I've noticed it on medical shows as well as forensic dramas, as if a belief in God has to be in conflict with an understanding of science.

Tonight at 8 pm on Fox, the show Bones is airing a Christmas episode. I've seen a clip from the latter half (as the plot wraps up) that has a wonderful Christian message. I was very impressed to see such a clear presentation of the meaning of Christmas--Christ our Redeemer--being presented on a secular show.

If you get a chance to watch, you can support a rare Hollywood admission of the Gospel.

If I Wrote God's Résumé

If practice makes perfect, then I should have an ideal résumé by now. In the past year, I have rewritten my resume hundreds of times. I have been bright and charming; I have been dull and boring; I have been, shall we say, creative with the truth, emphasizing some aspects of my previous jobs more than others. I have skipped some employment all together, and on other versions, I've listed any lemonade stand I ever manned. I suppose to some extent I've been successful--I've had several interviews.



But the whole process has got me thinking about the way that we describe ourselves and our accomplishments. Clearly, the job market puts value on certain skills and ability. There is significance to education and training, but the biggest thing that makes a job candidate stand out from the others is results!



When we worship the Lord, we recognize the skills and abilities of God. We appreciate his accomplishments, and we document his results. The Psalms are full of God's "experience and qualifications" and I am reminded of them as I read Psalm 103,



"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him . . . "


Can you imagine having a résumé like that one?

The Grocery Fairy

Last night when I got home from work, tired and hungry, I noticed right away that someone had been inside my home. A lamp was lit, like a beacon welcoming me into the house, and I knew I hadn't left the lamp on. I looked around to see what else had been disturbed, and saw my kitchen floor was covered in grocery bags. A quick look inside the fridge revealed that that it was full, too. The grocery fairy had visited and left me all kinds of staples to start off my kitchen pantry! I got sugar and flour, salt and pepper, canned goods, and paper products. There was even a little potpie waiting for me to heat up for a late after-work dinner. There were breakfast items and meat packages, pasta, rice, and pudding snacks. I grasped a carrot and held it high, like Scarlet O'Hara, and shouted, "As God is my witness, I'll never go hungry again!"

No, not really, but it was a great feeling to know that my cupboards were full. Plus, someday it will be a good sermon illustration! Thank you, grocery fairy!