the heart of mission

this sunday @ 6PM!

Join us this weekend (Sunday, January 3) at Compass Church as we share the vision of Red Door to be a lover of our world. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave…” He gave… not so we would be takers, but so we could be transformed into givers as well. Join us for a meal, for a vision of a church, and a time of worship. Please help us know how many to prepare for by signing up. Registration and Directions below.

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compass church

I spoke at Compass Church this past Sunday. If you don’t remember, Compass is the church who lets us use their facility rent-free once a month. It was a great time to spend a Sunday with the people who so generously lets us meet their without paying a dime. The worship team was incredible and the service went well as I wrapped up their series on Compassionate Art. I spoke from Philippians 2:1-16 and talked about the God who is working in us as we are working out our salvation.

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love covers

We are starting a new Christmas Eve-Eve tradition here by delivering blankets and scarves on Wednesday night to the City Gospel Mission (and a few other spots) in Cincinnati. For more information, to get directions, and to sign up please go to Love Covers

world vision gift catalog

If you haven’t seen this already then this is something you definitely need to check out. It is the World Vision Gift Catalog. It is a giving service through World Vision that allows you to give gifts that will supply the basic needs of a family. From one year of education ($32) to my personal favorite… the goat ($75). Here is what World Vision says about the gift of a goat…

Goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Goats also give a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. A healthy dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.

You can also attach the gift to a friend who would receive a really nice card. The card describes the gift and it’s benefit for the family receiving the gift. This is a great gift for your children or for the person who “already has everything”. Check it out!

World Vision Gift Catalog

invictus

The movie I am most wanting to see this Holiday season is Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. The newly elected Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.

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how small are we?

Check out the newest image from Hubble. It’s our deepest glimpse into space yet and every last one of these is a galaxy… yeah… that thing that holds it’s own sun and planets… billions of ‘em. How small are we? How big is God?

Click image to download in full-size grandure!

happy birthday leslie newbigin

Leslie Newbigin would have been 100 years old today. His words and influence have been profound in calling the church back to it’s missional roots. Here are a few of my favorite Newbigin quotes and a link to read more about his life and work.

“The church… is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship.”

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oh holy night

This song was written by an abolitionist. It was once banned from ever being sung in church, and yet became the first song ever heard on the radio. Read the amazing story behind this song. The Story of Oh Holy Night.

the beauty of christmas

It’s the old songs that remind us of the beauty of Christmas. The music of Christmas beginnings… the music of a savior coming to rescue the world. One of these songs, Oh Holy Night, has captivated me from the first time I heard it with it’s beautifully piercing cry to “fall on your knees! oh hear the angels voices“. It’s the beauty of words reminding us of the power of heaven breaking into our world on that not so silent night. Up until this past week I had never heard (paid attention?) to the 3rd verse of this song. Take a few minutes and read these lyrics from the Christmas carol… hymn? worship song? All I can say is… wow.

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