tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99263282024-03-07T13:30:06.888-08:00The Mission House ChurchOUR VISION: To be a community that models the life and love of Jesus to our world and to one another.
OUR MISSION: We are a community in love with Jesus. We are the Church. We have a mission to be Jesus to our friends, neighbors and our world.
WHO WE ARE: We are an outward focused Christian community with an inward commitment to love and disciple others to Jesus’ way of life.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-73339007170300803512017-05-01T16:11:00.001-07:002017-05-01T16:11:16.776-07:00Lunch Together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjpQujIDVQr1fGt2dxxONY4ys5CznuSQcDAMxYsd_nIAlCY1XxA1JAWTC8Vayx1AC_rjfRSIJFLR_qkpEPmVilNDBDSsyoyTuIMep5ERAmaQD5JhuZg_p0dNCLt7_AkCtY2w8/s1600/MISSION+CHURCH+FOOD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjpQujIDVQr1fGt2dxxONY4ys5CznuSQcDAMxYsd_nIAlCY1XxA1JAWTC8Vayx1AC_rjfRSIJFLR_qkpEPmVilNDBDSsyoyTuIMep5ERAmaQD5JhuZg_p0dNCLt7_AkCtY2w8/s320/MISSION+CHURCH+FOOD.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-65057685506529973222017-04-26T15:58:00.000-07:002017-04-26T15:58:00.347-07:00Still here...We've been together for 10 years now and it's better now than ever before.<br />
<br />
Learning to love one another and to realize Jesus in our midst has been the most fulfilling and amazing thing we've ever attempted together.<br />
<br />
Jesus is so faithful to show up whenever two or more are gathered in His name and He appears in our midst.<br />
<br />
Halleluiah!<br />
<br />
<br />Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-71168979476612389902011-07-04T08:54:00.000-07:002011-07-04T08:55:48.140-07:00Sleepy Baby Mikala<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWdIwUi1DGz4wZElVomv7hHUAPjfnaGqnru1u5dNxD9oI_huCNLNku869ns91kdHh94MZVzwezY5i3-s3MKTLcEOytqgfbEuX8OpwroXtofXNW4Rbv6KhF9HG_fwPi_ri57hN/s1600/sleeping_mikala.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWdIwUi1DGz4wZElVomv7hHUAPjfnaGqnru1u5dNxD9oI_huCNLNku869ns91kdHh94MZVzwezY5i3-s3MKTLcEOytqgfbEuX8OpwroXtofXNW4Rbv6KhF9HG_fwPi_ri57hN/s320/sleeping_mikala.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625526185151328866" /></a><br /><br />Just got this photo of Baby Mikala from her safe families host this morning.<br /><br />This is who we're working so hard for.<br /><br />Thanks for your prayers!<br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-8203613501543304882011-07-03T07:57:00.001-07:002011-07-03T08:01:02.250-07:00BAPTISM DAY FOR JULIE!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR_cbDpg5YKeOR9htS1Kg3_mYUg1gZeGgfl3TZvo3vAJwTxpPhyviji_XxnYBPHZ-7_QmWO9qKOUQgvseeUh31JMaSbJ1bh2qKSEawF7Hi4HeDGldyNy1Qinc8KT2PCZMSCT8/s1600/DSCN4223.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR_cbDpg5YKeOR9htS1Kg3_mYUg1gZeGgfl3TZvo3vAJwTxpPhyviji_XxnYBPHZ-7_QmWO9qKOUQgvseeUh31JMaSbJ1bh2qKSEawF7Hi4HeDGldyNy1Qinc8KT2PCZMSCT8/s320/DSCN4223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625141013210326194" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SgJOCfudJ2ets3blmgQzYdUkNKJnxvb_8H49pH2JFS_zkMMsgFLmDsfAt1Rh3kvh1PiCIyUaIbdHk4fn7-MjqnPwxqV39YEf_JW_wOjUsZkUU7aRGzIYhE4gJ95J3CjiaqNc/s1600/DSCN4217.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SgJOCfudJ2ets3blmgQzYdUkNKJnxvb_8H49pH2JFS_zkMMsgFLmDsfAt1Rh3kvh1PiCIyUaIbdHk4fn7-MjqnPwxqV39YEf_JW_wOjUsZkUU7aRGzIYhE4gJ95J3CjiaqNc/s320/DSCN4217.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625140705024385074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cjllI1z54sG_5B_b3PgCNyLygFpnGMmjDQLFu8A-HZwHhLemnvl4JM5kBQ9xcZ3KcRhiRaYqll_DCzX3aUMm2NJFcLsyp6Hrk8zMab95OmUIQR3TckGMZ7y1wTuyfJPXCGGX/s1600/DSCN4218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cjllI1z54sG_5B_b3PgCNyLygFpnGMmjDQLFu8A-HZwHhLemnvl4JM5kBQ9xcZ3KcRhiRaYqll_DCzX3aUMm2NJFcLsyp6Hrk8zMab95OmUIQR3TckGMZ7y1wTuyfJPXCGGX/s320/DSCN4218.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625140563870900642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx823kYC0yyxvodflTmiCGpyZ5uLBiJl8UzQnExHGqyoC1OCvTOUcBTzJ63PWBBlbdjIvBb2wY3v3U1Zvj4LUNavX5rS2C_frPNXpnhVoarP-kf5cMne8KB-D0DecarekUC5n/s1600/DSCN4219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx823kYC0yyxvodflTmiCGpyZ5uLBiJl8UzQnExHGqyoC1OCvTOUcBTzJ63PWBBlbdjIvBb2wY3v3U1Zvj4LUNavX5rS2C_frPNXpnhVoarP-kf5cMne8KB-D0DecarekUC5n/s320/DSCN4219.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625140417755686226" /></a><br /><br />What a wonderful day yesterday as we baptized our dear sister in Christ, Julie. <br /><br />Let's do this again really soon!<br /><br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-66814936535713081652011-05-09T19:14:00.000-07:002011-05-09T19:47:22.515-07:00Invisible: Organic ChurchA group of local organic church members recently got together to make a list of things that are "wrong" with Organic Church. More specifically, to identify weaknesses in the simple church and to think of ways we can address these challenges.<br /><br />The first one I wanted to talk about from our list was that "Organic churches are often invisible to the community."<br /><br />In our discussion we reflected on the fact that house churches don't have large signs out front, and don't market themselves the way traditional churches do. Because of this, it's often likely that a house church could exist for years right down the street from another house church and not even be aware of each other. Not to mention the fact that people in the community are also not aware that the house church meeting is taking place in their neighborhood.<br /><br />So, what are the solutions to address this concern? I'd like to start out by isolating a few specific items first and addressing them individually.<br /><br />*House Churches aren't as good at marketing themselves as traditional churches are.<br />Why is this? One of the main reasons is that house churches are not, by nature, attractional model gatherings. That is, the point of a house church is not to attract or to gather as many people as possible each and every week. In fact, in our house church family, our goal is to gather with as small a group as possible every week. If our group were to suddenly have 20 new people start attending our gatherings every Sunday, we'd have to split our group into two or even three other smaller groups in order to continue to maintain the quality of our fellowship together. <br /><br />Simply put, in the house church, bigger is not better. Now, that doesn't mean that we don't value evangelism. Our group just baptized 3 people last weekend, but this was after several months, even years, of relationship and discipleship over time. <br /><br />Here's the difference. In traditional churches I've served at in the past, our goal as a staff was to find new ways to attract a certain segment of people - young marrieds with children. We strategized ways to attract them. We flat out marketed our church to them with booths at local fairs and logo branded water bottles passed out at shopping malls and worship concerts in the park, etc. If we were successful we'd have 10 or 20 new people show up that Sunday morning and they'd eventually decide to join our church and tithe: SUCCESS!<br /><br />Now, with the house church it's almost completely upside-down from that. In our house church we prefer to meet regularly with other disciples of Jesus; people who are seriously trying to follow Jesus in their everyday life and who want to connect with others who simply want to learn how to put the teachings of Jesus into practice daily. We're not perfect. Far from it. If anything we know how weak we are and we know that, without the help of the Holy Spirit and the support of our church family, we'd never make it alone. If we kept on adding new people all the time we'd dilute our ability to share deeply with one another - because there are some things that you'll share with a group of five or six that you would never share in a group of 25 or 30 people. Also, if we were to grow too large too quickly, we would struggle to build relationships with one another and the quality of our community would suffer.<br /><br />So, what do we do? Well, first of all we don't attempt to artificially increase the number of people who fellowship with us. At the same time, we do not attempt to eliminate people or turn anyone away who wants to join us. In essence, we do our best to let Jesus build His Church. And you know what? He does!<br /><br />When our family first planted our house church we did not recruit anyone to come with us. Only one other family, and one single woman from our previous traditional church came with us (and only because they wanted to, not because we convinced them to). Everyone else who has ever come to our house church has found us, we have not found them.<br /><br />Secondly, I want to address the issue of being invisible to the community we're planted in. To me, this is a more serious problem. We've always felt that our calling was not only to plant a house church in our home, but that God was planting a church in this specific neighborhood. In other words, we were here in this house because God had a plan (and He still does) to love the people on our street through us. <br /><br />So, from the beginning (about five years ago now) we started reaching out to the kids in our neighborhood. At first that involved leading Kids Church in our home on Sunday mornings. Mainly because Wendy and I had been children's pastors at our previous church (and we loved teaching kids together), and also because by inviting the kids in our neighborhood to come on a Sunday morning we would figure out which families already went to church somewhere and which one's didn't. Most of them, we figured out, didn't attend anywhere on Sunday mornings.<br /><br />Later, we hosted pancake breakfasts for everyone in our cul-de-sac on the Fourth of July and we intentionally went out of our way to meet our actual neighbors, invite them over for dinner, take out their trashcans for them, and serve them in whatever ways we could. In essence, we determined that we would become missionaries to our neighbors. <br /><br />Over time, (and this is an ongoing story), we got to pray for families in real trouble. We got to encourage them. We got to share Jesus with their kids. We got to see their kids fall in love with Jesus. We got to share groceries with families in financial need. We got to tutor their kids in math and spelling. We got to babysit when they were in a bind. <br /><br />Suffice it to say, our neighbors know that there's a church on their street, and they know that we love them and that Jesus loves them. We're still hoping to make a deeper impact for them and to bring the Kingdom of God into their lives in a more powerful way, but we also know that God wants this even more than we do and He will lead us as we continue to submit ourselves to Him.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-84610255542438911222011-05-07T20:01:00.000-07:002011-05-07T20:21:47.507-07:00BAPTISM DAY!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqPryhgm0_v6DPB6NUCcWVnmNhyB2EfWqHFLaDazxl3hte99R3xBDW7LmhThL7_h-Igl07MOqzdec6OIMHsqWp2o_zOGB7MMrsV9HTmZgtTKznlbdFFaFp8Rp89AOud_M_0dr/s1600/DSCN4177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqPryhgm0_v6DPB6NUCcWVnmNhyB2EfWqHFLaDazxl3hte99R3xBDW7LmhThL7_h-Igl07MOqzdec6OIMHsqWp2o_zOGB7MMrsV9HTmZgtTKznlbdFFaFp8Rp89AOud_M_0dr/s320/DSCN4177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604180263546073794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ghl-RIArbOtBSGR_2Q8PfkL6LkSKf0g1lZw70Am-tK8sJGwqyLCqLHbfRYFiCFdFaJbBsHWJHJ7GT7wYBivO_h6njxBtbFYPIJzQWTHf0Bf8qs9cTNeQXBR9vNvb9_mURb5/s1600/DSCN4176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ghl-RIArbOtBSGR_2Q8PfkL6LkSKf0g1lZw70Am-tK8sJGwqyLCqLHbfRYFiCFdFaJbBsHWJHJ7GT7wYBivO_h6njxBtbFYPIJzQWTHf0Bf8qs9cTNeQXBR9vNvb9_mURb5/s320/DSCN4176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604180253374222626" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExBo-c2BTtpqcUuNzbAh7mm8WuQjrdGWqKqFGSQ_37RcP2fyVImZdjTVpdfiBYdpBUje4FrgDXpedIGUL281qfiptXXnIxDOUJIJ6wyfYmr61Fop3NxiKhaqx4-JRtZoAMRJC/s1600/DSCN4175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExBo-c2BTtpqcUuNzbAh7mm8WuQjrdGWqKqFGSQ_37RcP2fyVImZdjTVpdfiBYdpBUje4FrgDXpedIGUL281qfiptXXnIxDOUJIJ6wyfYmr61Fop3NxiKhaqx4-JRtZoAMRJC/s320/DSCN4175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604180250315769986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcytTXJ1VsuIGhqYwVdSI5tltiZmkkrJ1yWc1pD4tM-NtO7s1qPqXZUH-GhH1jOdN4pH5zy76-6wDJ9ohBM4T_N-yt1GuOWFAw-vi0rCAzcv58WeJYKsOFPlzeiNuXvHiWB5H6/s1600/DSCN4174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcytTXJ1VsuIGhqYwVdSI5tltiZmkkrJ1yWc1pD4tM-NtO7s1qPqXZUH-GhH1jOdN4pH5zy76-6wDJ9ohBM4T_N-yt1GuOWFAw-vi0rCAzcv58WeJYKsOFPlzeiNuXvHiWB5H6/s320/DSCN4174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604180245327700482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZH9yZrnrT0wclM9B-PRdJyGcHdDqLcDyK7uGDb7gdTWw7PjmUHRhFCjwSr1Pj94mYkWv_suQouUEbG8oeLMjBjafwhNftGFQU0-jgoNVLuqCCKZVi5yl5yHfaS6PKm0aGOdU/s1600/DSCN4180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZH9yZrnrT0wclM9B-PRdJyGcHdDqLcDyK7uGDb7gdTWw7PjmUHRhFCjwSr1Pj94mYkWv_suQouUEbG8oeLMjBjafwhNftGFQU0-jgoNVLuqCCKZVi5yl5yHfaS6PKm0aGOdU/s320/DSCN4180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604179326830879826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSFEOrI3KX0411my__UDolvb-PodqWxEfhRiJO7haVDvNEZf6h0-mqc5DAEg0JMlr1E5szTI3ZZ6aATzXNo6_qbY4pGcaBnGuPIVi4X_tOwDH6S2yvQffQ7ZJDaxhM9M-510F/s1600/DSCN4181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSFEOrI3KX0411my__UDolvb-PodqWxEfhRiJO7haVDvNEZf6h0-mqc5DAEg0JMlr1E5szTI3ZZ6aATzXNo6_qbY4pGcaBnGuPIVi4X_tOwDH6S2yvQffQ7ZJDaxhM9M-510F/s320/DSCN4181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604179317593795954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTTVJGlgsAB-TYQWD_Vgu5TtVXhYzLyZocOijx5h8tS0NfGiTO3f3-K-Yj8x7tCmb8wq9Lir919Kfxqivua4oAtnM0Ol7WY3K_l3FzoEjlt8kBqgOfUUsBwzCwWS14x6vi1re/s1600/DSCN4182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTTVJGlgsAB-TYQWD_Vgu5TtVXhYzLyZocOijx5h8tS0NfGiTO3f3-K-Yj8x7tCmb8wq9Lir919Kfxqivua4oAtnM0Ol7WY3K_l3FzoEjlt8kBqgOfUUsBwzCwWS14x6vi1re/s320/DSCN4182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604179313556499826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQUXPt1AFyQgY0EoG36iDYKQnlFLQlwB8OjdwRJOf2Jrm8SXcA62OrxK1z4nKUwZ4zQGMoTUtgMgJNSwER8F4_8d86WUhFZ8eKUUyjhtP0CehKgIVTmnikxIUpPK7L49beqjS/s1600/DSCN4183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQUXPt1AFyQgY0EoG36iDYKQnlFLQlwB8OjdwRJOf2Jrm8SXcA62OrxK1z4nKUwZ4zQGMoTUtgMgJNSwER8F4_8d86WUhFZ8eKUUyjhtP0CehKgIVTmnikxIUpPK7L49beqjS/s320/DSCN4183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604178542715763522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTghgkPuO5lesQgQMLwgOaoTheqiS2hTgjSJMbgJXC6G0d2DGZhrDCUokhV9S7VfzgsbiOi9lA6dil5aU9DCCEvR47Pk-V7wV7AInp3BUgeYUuixVqbiWcBuxE_i9r2PBcCaU/s1600/DSCN4184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTghgkPuO5lesQgQMLwgOaoTheqiS2hTgjSJMbgJXC6G0d2DGZhrDCUokhV9S7VfzgsbiOi9lA6dil5aU9DCCEvR47Pk-V7wV7AInp3BUgeYUuixVqbiWcBuxE_i9r2PBcCaU/s320/DSCN4184.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604178539448548642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BZ2Xf1QRRQCFeGslFgIbc-Ih_2-iPhOrcdxoSuNmOmJQaHyuojERwgEZbIumVb-XX7EtriwsIdzjXgKUq_s6m_jPF29Tn5Bjq-IlRLeI86WsygO6UJmD68rZLN0q9XZMsCzJ/s1600/DSCN4185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BZ2Xf1QRRQCFeGslFgIbc-Ih_2-iPhOrcdxoSuNmOmJQaHyuojERwgEZbIumVb-XX7EtriwsIdzjXgKUq_s6m_jPF29Tn5Bjq-IlRLeI86WsygO6UJmD68rZLN0q9XZMsCzJ/s320/DSCN4185.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604178533992541506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiD0Q4TzHhXJBHpV0x9ieLqMAHFR4RJUMoW2kpn44gmnAW0kf0Rb_0puNY6DsKNDxcl4r11DKersE3XnnvxsOMU0oMNCX2_z7RGM9VqTgxsYOU3qtUKazqXwE32hL15Hk6puD/s1600/DSCN4186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiD0Q4TzHhXJBHpV0x9ieLqMAHFR4RJUMoW2kpn44gmnAW0kf0Rb_0puNY6DsKNDxcl4r11DKersE3XnnvxsOMU0oMNCX2_z7RGM9VqTgxsYOU3qtUKazqXwE32hL15Hk6puD/s320/DSCN4186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604178526821685378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMTHJ8qW70BuVVi_fi756JdRFmMsrKm77uV9RmOZrfTYc4ab49Y7pS8kxiksDoZlhnSA4Elk2fuDa5HhQQ-hy-lygxarfDBTkUvfaCp4t2V0_juN3XrSK_Vtl6jM025sHswq5/s1600/DSCN4187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMTHJ8qW70BuVVi_fi756JdRFmMsrKm77uV9RmOZrfTYc4ab49Y7pS8kxiksDoZlhnSA4Elk2fuDa5HhQQ-hy-lygxarfDBTkUvfaCp4t2V0_juN3XrSK_Vtl6jM025sHswq5/s320/DSCN4187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604177995242253938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhHpLF4SXOk9X70teG_w_v42gjIDED6XbFtKinQnnq-OVL8ycG00abkfNeZ84UA4uBXmWnju-Q_CUnRQ5_2BMIQ8Qe9nVSJLsm73dfd05hucQ5AwiwOL3arP5z8RiJpEs0uwF/s1600/DSCN4188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhHpLF4SXOk9X70teG_w_v42gjIDED6XbFtKinQnnq-OVL8ycG00abkfNeZ84UA4uBXmWnju-Q_CUnRQ5_2BMIQ8Qe9nVSJLsm73dfd05hucQ5AwiwOL3arP5z8RiJpEs0uwF/s320/DSCN4188.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604177993138734834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXSBoFZe3zqKXq015iEjjZowqxW4qyVIZ4skYrLa8eAtPKHH6QcMjc2IH0nkjLY5ZK5R_EMrRplOCu6sfCg5Nii8TpetMy6xLlFjx4_DNbUi1_j1Aw7oOE7JKbIK0J1OzWfT2/s1600/DSCN4189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXSBoFZe3zqKXq015iEjjZowqxW4qyVIZ4skYrLa8eAtPKHH6QcMjc2IH0nkjLY5ZK5R_EMrRplOCu6sfCg5Nii8TpetMy6xLlFjx4_DNbUi1_j1Aw7oOE7JKbIK0J1OzWfT2/s320/DSCN4189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604177987377174562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBeFpRwNcl7Btucwf2fTnRSMv6AhKGp5tJueQ3VYlbDiH4AzWDAS6bpjNbqADFLlZHn8BRfsO_Ihh8Woccbdq-U_PlF3q1t-CBsqwrwtYMfQ1QfULoKt4GbPnWmXW3yWgywGE/s1600/DSCN4191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBeFpRwNcl7Btucwf2fTnRSMv6AhKGp5tJueQ3VYlbDiH4AzWDAS6bpjNbqADFLlZHn8BRfsO_Ihh8Woccbdq-U_PlF3q1t-CBsqwrwtYMfQ1QfULoKt4GbPnWmXW3yWgywGE/s320/DSCN4191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604177254877201490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt07x_pC4dy8fslD2La3gQrDyB4Pw0HTUNQ9ZhSEycBlY8qF25f_C92pEX7tWM9vkQsJeuBwPtDGoAOaY8p1wA_xYt-qs2DfxUZC8H5-XbMNaGhBFzOpO2bapgN6Pe1KY91RAm/s1600/DSCN4192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt07x_pC4dy8fslD2La3gQrDyB4Pw0HTUNQ9ZhSEycBlY8qF25f_C92pEX7tWM9vkQsJeuBwPtDGoAOaY8p1wA_xYt-qs2DfxUZC8H5-XbMNaGhBFzOpO2bapgN6Pe1KY91RAm/s320/DSCN4192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604177251672331410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCETd-u5JlayQ9763mNToKnrvkNi1F_t3xRn3G3xKqbHEMd4vT_30WB-_FQWGcnkX2PorV5TjY4QAiwtPvmK3sl_hgRR0t7X3WKJHgbEBul_OPo4Wsg5w_cNw1XoG7QSzjg2nf/s1600/DSCN4193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCETd-u5JlayQ9763mNToKnrvkNi1F_t3xRn3G3xKqbHEMd4vT_30WB-_FQWGcnkX2PorV5TjY4QAiwtPvmK3sl_hgRR0t7X3WKJHgbEBul_OPo4Wsg5w_cNw1XoG7QSzjg2nf/s320/DSCN4193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604177246233752210" /></a><br /><br />What a sweet day! We gathered at a friend's home to baptize 3 dear people - Rick, and Lolita (Rita) and her son, Moises.<br /><br />Brent baptized Rick and I got to baptize Rita and her son.<br /><br />What was so special about this day was that the people being baptized were the one's who shared before we got started. Rick read to us from the book of Acts, chapter 2 where Peter explains to his fellow Jews that they need to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin. Then he read a prayer of submission to Christ to all of us.<br /><br />Next, Rita sang a song that the Lord had given her in her native language, but afterwards she explained that the song was about surrendering all of her life to Jesus and giving Him back every blessing He had already given her.<br /><br />After the baptism we sang together a few verses of "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" and laid hands on Rick, Rita and Moises to bless them and share encouragment and words of wisdom with them.<br /><br />Our brother Ade had a specific word for all three of them that the Lord gave him at 2am this morning. He shared it and then he handed each of them a card where he had written down the word for them.<br /><br />It was a wonderful day! Can't wait to do this again soon.<br /><br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-8587225108227213922011-04-24T13:55:00.000-07:002011-04-24T13:59:46.439-07:00EASTER SUNDAY 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYAM3bxX-JWjwoE2PaWptc9uOK6M5jL0zNo0mQKCYFPOfh4y48R5reoscAbvc8hFiODmRNsJt1sYDKIGUJIS6mdFzUkL84zr-jXoeov7yPmKG5yPDnSMtAcIFbQ8CXWCVaFbF/s1600/DSCN4160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYAM3bxX-JWjwoE2PaWptc9uOK6M5jL0zNo0mQKCYFPOfh4y48R5reoscAbvc8hFiODmRNsJt1sYDKIGUJIS6mdFzUkL84zr-jXoeov7yPmKG5yPDnSMtAcIFbQ8CXWCVaFbF/s320/DSCN4160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599257433657577250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cOC8fxdGIG_t4TflXAUP3SMqg9muULpm-6mXEU7Duxu-QKhRwBuW0tyx3sAm60NpY389_q4bhGH8CRRX0gGGKVPjk8ZHGG6O73WZ24o_i_6AjU2F00SD38wJlEJItc360MYr/s1600/DSCN4159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cOC8fxdGIG_t4TflXAUP3SMqg9muULpm-6mXEU7Duxu-QKhRwBuW0tyx3sAm60NpY389_q4bhGH8CRRX0gGGKVPjk8ZHGG6O73WZ24o_i_6AjU2F00SD38wJlEJItc360MYr/s320/DSCN4159.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599257429927053746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYARC76gnd2sVFB70SkruoHIslLBfVufs4oLMDLYRBSjYD4J8tYiQswLGGcFNsEUFg0oEoonSitUfwWLpMyM_dbcgLRfyBAhPy0STJmaEbDq83QRdZdM6q2bOwLNTylQiT1RSs/s1600/DSCN4158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYARC76gnd2sVFB70SkruoHIslLBfVufs4oLMDLYRBSjYD4J8tYiQswLGGcFNsEUFg0oEoonSitUfwWLpMyM_dbcgLRfyBAhPy0STJmaEbDq83QRdZdM6q2bOwLNTylQiT1RSs/s320/DSCN4158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599257424393360450" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VGK4TknDu2E8ccAF5fV-q1Q-nzHM-zvTX3MsY0XNe6Msd4Y2SjAESZKrfCW8vzoxWTvKlDVvSK6Q-zKRGKM_wInThUjT6Vs2oiKoUe9R8XRkZHNI2nTkripQeBbqRe8yNixI/s1600/DSCN4157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VGK4TknDu2E8ccAF5fV-q1Q-nzHM-zvTX3MsY0XNe6Msd4Y2SjAESZKrfCW8vzoxWTvKlDVvSK6Q-zKRGKM_wInThUjT6Vs2oiKoUe9R8XRkZHNI2nTkripQeBbqRe8yNixI/s320/DSCN4157.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599257087709111826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XsrEKnwQ3yjHyUZ-ps8foQ0fu3J_fL841YAFFERYp4hcGujtgwHohG3p_y1T4AiSH_Dr-SYeWUzxR-qpBh3gFlvvskN5w-Zi5r4szamkvADnFE3k84r-s-AIYSdkf0M6X_TQ/s1600/DSCN4156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XsrEKnwQ3yjHyUZ-ps8foQ0fu3J_fL841YAFFERYp4hcGujtgwHohG3p_y1T4AiSH_Dr-SYeWUzxR-qpBh3gFlvvskN5w-Zi5r4szamkvADnFE3k84r-s-AIYSdkf0M6X_TQ/s320/DSCN4156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599256939019454546" /></a><br /><br />We had a wonderful (but cold and rainy) morning in the park singing resurrection songs together. Then we came back to the Giles' home and everyone took turns sharing what Easter means. Then the kids made "Resurrection Rolls" and we shared breakfast together.<br /><br />It was so great having new people with us, and also to share the day with our neighbors too.<br /><br />He is Risen indeed!<br /><br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-81357283140974426372011-04-22T12:49:00.000-07:002014-04-17T14:54:28.105-07:00TEXT FOR GOOD FRIDAY STATIONSFor those who want to recreate our Good Friday stations in their own home I've posted the text for each below.<br />
<br />
BTW- If you want to make Resurrection Rolls for Easter, my wife reminded me we don't use olive oil, we use melted butter. Big difference! <br />
<br />
Blessings,<br />
kg<br />
**<br />
<br />
<strong>GOOD FRIDAY INTERACTIVE MEDITATIVE STATIONS</strong><br />
<br />
Note: We also have a station for communion with a bowl or cup for the juice and matza or bread for dipping into the cup. You can set this up as a station, or you can have that in the room and share communion all together at the end as a way to dismiss and close the meeting.<br />
<br />
[DICE]- Participants throw a set of dice against a cloth on the floor with a seamless garment laying next to the them, if possible.<br />
<br />
Station Card:<br />
<br />
<strong>Throw the dice against the cloth to consider the triviality of the distractions in your life. Remember the disregard the soldiers had for Jesus as He died for them.</strong><br />
<br />
<em>“When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven with one piece from top to bottom. <br /><br />“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. “ – John 19:23-24</em><br />
<br />
**<br />
<br />
[VINEGAR]- A cup of red vinegar is in a bowl. Participants taste it using a Q-tip they dip into the cup and dispose of later.<br />
<br />
<strong>Taste the vinegar to experience the bitterness He tasted because of His amazing love for you and pray that your heart would not be embittered by the cares of this world.</strong><br />
<br />
<em>“There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.” – Matthew 27:34</em><br />
<br />
**<br />
<br />
[CROWN OF THORNS]- We have an actual crown of thorns but you can use just a rose stem with thorns on it if you need to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Hold these thorns to remember the crown He wore for you.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.” – John 19:1-3</em><br />
**<br />
<br />
[DRIVING NAILS]- We have a thick chunk of wood and large nails with several hammers. The sound of the nails being driven will echo through the house throughout the evening. Very powerful.<br />
<br />
<strong>Drive a nail into the wood to remember the price He paid to set you free.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>“Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.” – John 19:16-18</em><br />
**<br />
<br />
[TEARING CLOTH]- We cut up an old white t-shirt and slightly tear it in the top, center to get it started. Otherwise it can be very hard to tear.<br />
<br />
<strong>Tear the cloth to remember that the veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, and that we now have access to God’s Holy Presence in our daily lives.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.” – Matthew 27:50-51</em><br />
**<br />
<br />
[DIP HANDS IN RED PAINT]- Use a water based red paint. Make sure to have hand wipes nearby and a trash can to drop used wipes into. Always ask Parents to go with their children through each station and supervise<br />
<br />
<strong>Dip your hand in the red paint to symbolize the debt that He paid for you, personally, in His own blood.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>"Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing." - Luke 23:34 </em><br />
<br />
<br />
[We usually also post this poem I wrote next to the station for dipping the hands in red paint. Optional, of course.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>BLOOD</strong><br />
by Keith Giles<br />
<br />
There was rhythm in the air that morning <br />
<br />
a seed-planting rhythm in a land <br />
<br />
of broken ground. It traveled <br />
<br />
from my heel to <br />
<br />
my fingertips and <br />
<br />
circled in my neck until <br />
<br />
I bowed my head in submission. The beat <br />
<br />
continued, echoed across <br />
<br />
the arid stretch <br />
<br />
of the hillside and all <br />
<br />
of the faceless people stood <br />
<br />
swaying to the rhythm <br />
<br />
the compelling metronome <br />
<br />
of hammer and nail and <br />
<br />
the crescendo mounted until the blood <br />
<br />
the blood gushed hot and wet onto the grass <br />
<br />
we held our breath until they lifted <br />
<br />
the crossbar over our heads, until the sky <br />
<br />
turned to black cloud, until he whispered <br />
<br />
that it was finished <br />
<br />
and the soldiers took him down.<br />
<br />
But the rhythm never left my feet <br />
<br />
kept time with <br />
<br />
the beating in my heart, turned <br />
<br />
my blood to wine.<br />
<br />
**Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-19554407308334934152010-07-14T17:50:00.000-07:002010-07-14T17:50:00.302-07:00WHAT IS A NEW TESTAMENT MODEL OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP?The church in Corinth is a fascinating example of a church with numerous moral and ethical failures, yet when Paul writes to correct them he doesn't address their Pastor and command him to fix things. In fact, he doesn't even address their Elders or Overseers to respond to this by exercising their authority over the people. Why were the pastors, or for that matter the Elders of the Church, not commanded to exercise their authority and deal with the very serious moral failures within the Church in Corinth? Perhaps because Paul understood that the Body itself was capable of coming together to correct the problem themselves. Something he hints at when he says, "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?" – 1 Corinthians 6:3<br /><br />A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUBMISSION<br />I would like to humbly suggest that "Authority", and "Submission" do not necessarily imply organizational structures are at work in the New Testament Church. Submission is something that all believers are urged to do, and authority is only to be submitted to if it is in line with God’s Word and not on the basis of an office or appointment.<br /><br />"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." – Ephesians 5:21<br />Everyone is urged to submit to everyone else. It's a shared submission among brothers and sisters in Christ who are equals and who humbly care for one another. Only Christ is the head, or the leader, of the Church.<br /><br />Many are of the opinion that Jesus actually taught and promoted hierarchy in the Church, something I find alarming and dangerous. But, just for a moment, let me ask, "What would we expect to see in the New Testament if Jesus DIDN'T want His Church to be run like a hierarchy? Wouldn't we expect to see Jesus condemning this practice? Perhaps he would have pointed to a hierarchical system and commanded His disciples not to follow that example?<br /><br />"Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." – Jesus, in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 42-45.<br /><br />Does Jesus command his disciples not to exercise authority over people? Yes, he clearly and plainly does. What, then, are today's pastors doing if they are not exercising their authority over their church members? Isn't this a fair question to ask? Am I allowed to point out the disconnect between what Jesus says and what His Church actually does, or does not, do?<br /><br />Here, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus points to the Roman Government (a secular hierarchy) and commands his disciples not to imitate this system of lording it over people or exercising authority over those who follow.<br /><br />In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus points to a religious system of hierarchy and instructs them (again) not to imitate this system of hierarchy where the "Teacher" is exalted over the student. Instead, he says, remember that you are all brothers:<br /><br />"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." – Matthew 23:8-12<br /><br />Next, let's look at the Apostles themselves. If they heard Jesus commanding them to avoid the hierarchical system of leadership, wouldn't we see evidence that they obeyed this command? Did they take his words to heart? Let's see:<br /><br />"Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm." - 2 Cor.1:24<br /><br />Paul the Apostle obeys Jesus and refuses to "lord it over" those who follow Christ alongside him. Instead he works with them, as a brother, not as an authority figure.<br /><br />"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." – 1 Peter 5:1-4<br /><br />Here, Peter identifies himself, not as an Apostle, but as a fellow elder among the brethren. He then urges these elders (plural) to serve as overseers because they are willing, not because they have been handed a title or an appointment, and especially urges them to be careful not to "lord it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" – as Jesus commanded him several years earlier.<br /><br />Having said all of this, doesn't the New Testament ask that we submit to our leaders and their authority? Yes, it does. For example:<br /><br />Hebrews 13: 17- "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."<br /><br />Let me be clear, I am not arguing against leadership here. Not at all. Every church needs leadership, and this is also clearly taught in the New Testament, however I would like to ask us to consider the possibility that leadership doesn't automatically mean top-down, authoritarianism. Jesus modeled something different than this, and then he commanded his disciples to emulate his example.<br /><br />So, going back to our verse above, you might read this and ask, "What is the basis for our submission to our leaders?" Does their authority rest in the office they hold, or is it found in something else? Are we to submit to these leaders only because they hold an office? Or are we to submit to them as they point us to follow Christ? Hopefully we do not blindly follow people because they are "the Pastor" or because they have a title of authority. Hopefully.<br /><br />No, the only authority we are to submit to is Christ Himself. To me, this truth is self-evident when we look at the NT as a whole. <br /><br />Earlier in this same chapter, the writer of Hebrews, in chapter 13 and verse 7 says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."<br /><br />Here we are told to submit to our leaders as they speak the Word of God to us. Not to them as authorities in and of themselves, but as humble servants who lovingly teach us to follow Christ, and who then demonstrate this by their actual lives of faith.<br /><br />Submission then is to Christ and to the Word of God. If our leaders handle and teach the Word of God wisely, and if they faithfully live lives that reflect Christ, THEN we are to submit to their authority. But only if. Their authority is not automatic and it is not based on the office they hold. Otherwise, we would be accountable to obey leaders simply because they held that office, regardless of whether or not their lives reflected Christ or their teaching of God's Word was true.<br /><br />If we follow the policy of hierarchy for the sake of itself we can end up with someone holding an office within the Church and exercising authority even if they are not followers of Christ. Such a person should have no actual authority in any spiritual sense over the life of believers. What counts is character, not the office or the position. However, someone with no organizational office may, because of gifting by the Holy Spirit and sincere love for others, have actual authority to speak and teach and lead his brothers and sisters in Christ (who are his equals). <br /><br />Churches that employ such a man-made organizational method can only hope to mimic the kind of leadership such as the "rulers of the gentiles" possess, something that Jesus expressly commanded us not to do - "It shall not be so among you!" - Matthew 20:25-26.<br /><br />The Holy Spirit is the only source of spiritual authority and accountability in the Church through real-life relationships, not titles handed down by men.<br /><br />Did the Apostles depend upon the authority of men or did they give any weight to the opinions of men? Apparently they did not. For example, Paul says, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody." - 2 Corinthians.3:1-2<br /><br />If hierarchy was so important in the early church, why don't we see them exercising it? Why do we see them operating as a Body and not as a business? Perhaps the answers are right in front of us? Are we courageous enough to answer truthfully?<br /><br />As Biblical Scholar Richard Halverson has said, "When the Greeks got the Gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a government; when the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business."<br /><br />I pray we can help God's people to see that they were never intended to be run like a business, and instead to help them see that, according to the Word of God, they are simply a Family, a Body, an Organism, and a Bride.<br /><br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-58136033425629644402010-04-02T09:12:00.000-07:002014-04-17T14:54:19.122-07:00GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATIVE SERVICE TONIGHTTonight will be our third annual Good Friday meditation and reflection service.<br />
<br />
Participants will move from station to station and meditate on the passion and sacrifice of our Lord.<br />
<br />
Here are the stations we will observe:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk-K6hb9V6WGjYretxd-y9fNiktbS04zogwzGrmKOnGXqrPoGMdTekoQAV9XFjD2jC9u8T3JTrhjvXjy44BjOGwinC08zT0todPLNSV96uTc-O3KbNpsEMfP025lDXV8j6-Y0/s1600-h/DSCN3161.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk-K6hb9V6WGjYretxd-y9fNiktbS04zogwzGrmKOnGXqrPoGMdTekoQAV9XFjD2jC9u8T3JTrhjvXjy44BjOGwinC08zT0todPLNSV96uTc-O3KbNpsEMfP025lDXV8j6-Y0/s200/DSCN3161.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181101041918634386" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
Casting Lots for Christ's clothing<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGJ02vnx578Kn7Al1nWcaUoZEQL15amMYKg-Zqv3c01Ow_dPkRuiFfr1IaIMrHbcquRas2hSo1lahLGVVbCfG0caYsQCKq_re8GPULSbnPHfwrb6Xi5FDt5eWf7UbObBPGqtA/s1600-h/DSCN3162.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGJ02vnx578Kn7Al1nWcaUoZEQL15amMYKg-Zqv3c01Ow_dPkRuiFfr1IaIMrHbcquRas2hSo1lahLGVVbCfG0caYsQCKq_re8GPULSbnPHfwrb6Xi5FDt5eWf7UbObBPGqtA/s200/DSCN3162.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181101333976410530" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Tasting the vinegar and bitterness He tasted for us on the cross.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vqKWw7jfJlWFG_hOaUgfYWHdOWtHiOAb3rIZmSi6Ss_OZLEZBu1jBUAntW5vTiB5vhJaSMYpVx9cSvbJvF1-8BFQLcn1XGj3yMyDU4WzxEhVd0K1Q7KI4VZis8D0iKC6OD1G/s1600-h/DSCN3163.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vqKWw7jfJlWFG_hOaUgfYWHdOWtHiOAb3rIZmSi6Ss_OZLEZBu1jBUAntW5vTiB5vhJaSMYpVx9cSvbJvF1-8BFQLcn1XGj3yMyDU4WzxEhVd0K1Q7KI4VZis8D0iKC6OD1G/s200/DSCN3163.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181101660393925042" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
Touching the crown of thorns He wore in our place.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kbVNxNVc7GtVBascVH5T5BgUlltFBEN9mFLsXzKLyC_VffsbS5SospT3kMRbJnRC3LH5Y2p6JJTOfEmiO8zm_3K21V0p6Nh-1wKYCmDJCC96akxTkLDqps8DjiRvopzfVc6z/s1600-h/DSCN3164.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kbVNxNVc7GtVBascVH5T5BgUlltFBEN9mFLsXzKLyC_VffsbS5SospT3kMRbJnRC3LH5Y2p6JJTOfEmiO8zm_3K21V0p6Nh-1wKYCmDJCC96akxTkLDqps8DjiRvopzfVc6z/s200/DSCN3164.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181101973926537666" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
Driving nails into the wood to remember the price He paid to set us free.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pv_F8BdcE6Lz1usf9r_5f_BPXei0d5ky5_tYkgWCmUhXoAhKWx4x5sRbjAYM8b_maiiM4hAtKXl5w1quRv_qXXe-aoqY2MFcW63pffif5gW3NhsimglW6YMfmnXSYBKYNPjv/s1600-h/DSCN3166.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pv_F8BdcE6Lz1usf9r_5f_BPXei0d5ky5_tYkgWCmUhXoAhKWx4x5sRbjAYM8b_maiiM4hAtKXl5w1quRv_qXXe-aoqY2MFcW63pffif5gW3NhsimglW6YMfmnXSYBKYNPjv/s200/DSCN3166.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181102716955879890" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
Dipping our hands into red paint to make a collage of thanksgiving to Jesus for His amazing love.<br />
<br />
We will also tear cloth to symbolize the veil of the temple being torn in two for us.<br />
<br />
Afterwards we will sit and share the Lord's Supper together. Each person may sing a song spontaneously, and we will all worship together accapella. <br />
<br />
Finally, we will all light a candle and, one by one, share what Jesus' sacrifice means to us individually, blowing out our candles as we go. We will dismiss in darkness and exit in silence.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-42572545119047413672010-03-16T09:30:00.001-07:002010-03-16T09:30:57.410-07:00LET US BE ONEIn the Gospel of John, we get to eavesdrop on the intimate conversation between Jesus and the Father. In this prayer Jesus prays for us and his prayer for us is that we would be one: <br /><br />"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message that all of them may be one, Father, just as you and I are one....May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." - John 17:20-21 <br /><br />Unity in the Body is essential. According to the prayer of Jesus, our unity is a proof of the messianic identity of Jesus and of the love of God for us: <br /><br />"May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (v. 23) <br /><br />Hopefully in your experience as a follower of Jesus you have had the opportunity to meet another believer in Christ and fall in love with them immediately. I don't mean that in the romantic sense, but in the sense that you feel as if you have known them all your life even though you've only just met them. <br /><br />If so, what you're experiencing is a kinship of faith with another member of your family - the Family of God. <br /><br />Regardless of whether or not that person is a member of your denomination, or whether or not this person agrees with you about specific points of doctrine, you have an undeniable feeling of brotherly (or sisterly) love for this individual. You are recognizing the Christ in them and you are responding to the love of Jesus shared between you both. <br /><br />Whenever we experience this we are bearing witness to the unity of the Body of Christ. There is only one Body and if we have loved Jesus and put our faith in Him, we are members of His Body. <br /><br />Whenever we make a decision to love the Jesus in another person - and to overlook the doctrinal points of disagreement - we are keeping the unity of the Body of Christ. <br /><br />A good friend, and brother in Christ, recently pointed out to me that throughout Christian history, when christian leaders gathered to nail down points of doctrine the result was never unity - it was always more division. <br /><br />Our little house church, the Mission, is comprised of a variety of different people who are all from extremely divergent streams of faith. In our house church there are former Calvary Chapel pastors and youth leaders, former Vineyard members, former Southern Baptists, former Bretheren, former Church of Christ, former Lutherans, and former independent, non-denominational, "whatchamacallits". <br /><br />On paper our house church has no business surviving for over 4 years as a family of God. Yet, somehow we manage to love one another, to serve one another and to consider one another as dear brothers and sisters in Christ in spite of our obvious doctrinal differences. <br /><br />How do we do it? Well, mostly we've done it by choosing to see and love the Jesus in one another. We've made a choice to overlook those doctrinal differences in favor of learning from the experiences - and varying perspectives - of others in our Body. <br /><br />Now, to be honest, our house church if far from perfect. We are people, just like everyone else. We're human. We're sinners. We're just as foolish and fickle as you are. And most of all, we all recognize our intense daily need for more of Jesus. <br /><br />What blesses me, however, is how God called each of us to be part of this Body. I did not recruit anyone. Most people who currently attend our house church each week found us and sought us out. I did not find them. God touched their hearts and called them out and lead them by His Spirit to join this church family. <br /><br />I love that God would call former Lutherans and Baptists and Church of Christ and Vineyard and Calvary Chapel, etc. members to join hearts and hands and lives and become one fellowship of saints together. I love that He would allow us to learn to forgive one another, and to honor one another, and to lay down our denominational and doctrinal identities to embrace membership in the Body of Christ. <br /><br />We are part of your church. You are part of our church. All of us are members of one another. Because there is only one Body, and one Church, and One Lord. <br /><br />"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." - 1 Cor 12:12-13 <br /><br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-81290518255726737322009-12-29T10:07:00.000-08:002009-12-29T10:28:52.781-08:002009 in ReviewThis year our house church family began to draw nearer to one another in many ways. We're still learning what it means to love one another. But, at least we're being more honest about our fears, and what holds us back from being loved and showing love.<br /><br />Our house church family has learned to embrace those among us who are going through difficult financial times. We've taken time to listen, to pray for, and best of all, to dig down deep and provide financial blessings for families in our Body who are struggling.<br /><br />We're learning how to set aside our own personal preferences in order to honor those among us who have needs that are different from our own. Sometimes that means waiting patiently for others to wrestle with things we may have already endured. <br /><br />We're also learning to honor our children again. Welcoming, and encouraging them, to share more and speak up, and participate as fully functional members of the Body of Christ.<br /><br />I am still learning when to be silent and when to speak up. I'm being challenged to prepare teaching more often, but also still careful to at least try to listen more than I speak. It's not easy.<br /><br />For me, this year was pivotal. This was the year when I ceased being the pastor of the Mission and became one of the members of the Body. Now I am one of the brothers here, not the leader. Our leader is Jesus. And more and more we are learning how to allow Him to actually lead us, and speak to us, and be the head over us.<br /><br />Our themes this year were love, the priesthood of the believer, the headship of Christ, compassion to one another, and corporate prayer.<br /><br />I've been very blessed to begin every Sunday gathering with 30 minutes of prayer time. As we gather together to seek the Lord's leadership and guidance for the day, I've seen the Lord working more in our midst and teaching us more about His will for us.<br /><br />For the last 4 years the word for this church has been "love". I believe we are still mainly called to explore this core command of Jesus together. What does it mean to love one another? How can we become experts at loving our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our co-workers? How can we learn to love one another more? What does that involve? <br /><br />One thing I do know is that love is messy. Just like church. There are no easy answers. Things can be more challenging and difficult than we imagine. Love is not easy. It does not come naturally to us. Love means letting go. It means laying ourselves aside for the sake of others. It means dying to ourselves. Love means putting others first. It means enduring seasons of discomfort in order to comfort those in pain. <br /><br />So, I may not know what is ahead for us in 2010, as a church family. But I do know that, as we allow Jesus to have more of us, He will lead His Church. He will speak to us. He will reveal His heart and He will make His will known to us.<br /><br />-kgKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-79959940694240477662009-12-15T19:08:00.000-08:002009-12-15T19:09:23.476-08:00THIS WEEK AT THE MISSIONHey Missionaries,<br /> <br />Quick info to share:<br /> <br />*CAROLING - At 6:45pm, Thursday night at Fountain Care. Afterwards we'll return to our house for snacks, coffee/hot chocolate/fellowship.<br /> <br />*MOTEL SERVICE - This Saturday at the California Studio Inn from 2pm to 3:30pm. We'll pray for our friends living in the motel, pass out free groceries, and host a bounce house for the kids. If you want to join us please RSVP.<br /> <br />*DEADLINE FOR MOTEL GIFTS - This Sunday is when we need everyone to bring their toys/gifts and their tags for the motel children. These will be passed out to the kids on Monday, Dec.21st.<br /> <br />*ROBERT HIGGINS: I'm going today to sign papers with him where he's allowing me to be the one to make decisions for his care when the time comes that he can't do it for himself.<br /> <br />Basically, this insures that I will be with him until his last day. I'm very honored and blessed that he wants me to be the person who does this for him - but really it should be his son, or his daughters, not me.<br /> <br />I hope one day everyone can meet him. He's a great guy.<br /> <br />Thanks for keeping him in your prayers as he struggles with his bone cancer and wrestles with trusting God with his life.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-34722902409974260382009-09-16T12:41:00.001-07:002009-09-16T12:41:54.315-07:00BABY ELLA UPDATE - 9/16/09(From Peggy Helander)<br /><br />Just wanted to let you know that Ella is doing well. She had an x-ray of her shoulder yesterday. I got to see the before and after x-rays and even my eye can see a big improvement in her bone structure in her shoulder.<br /> <br />I'm not sure why the bone had been thicker and is now back to the thickness of the surrounding bones, but that is what has happened. The blood tests have no sign of infection. So her health is much improved.<br /> <br />She is still tiny, only 8lbs 4 oz, but is now steadily gaining weight (though slower than the doctors like)<br /> <br />She is a sweet little girl. I've had the pleasure of spending time with the family and holding her… (she likes to be held most the time - go figure!!) But, I like that. She is so cute when she stretches while she's sleeping.<br /> <br />Thank you for your prayers… the family feels the Lord's arms around them.<br /> <br />PeggyKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-28051674137756726322009-08-27T11:48:00.000-07:002009-08-27T11:52:47.014-07:00Pray for Baby Ella<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HOHsvtpWnO30BGx5Tq0bNrVHYaeSIM3_jm6gjh-3pktJaOvzr4b3w0sLuF3vx43p8BW30Tm_ICDKR-8yYxoZG2dzN4xQGpg0SgwUaRiLNjG00pfHRMr8MQitDOSWu2F11jq7/s1600-h/BABYELLA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HOHsvtpWnO30BGx5Tq0bNrVHYaeSIM3_jm6gjh-3pktJaOvzr4b3w0sLuF3vx43p8BW30Tm_ICDKR-8yYxoZG2dzN4xQGpg0SgwUaRiLNjG00pfHRMr8MQitDOSWu2F11jq7/s320/BABYELLA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374717496767210658" /></a><br /><br />Baby Ella had an MRI today and they found that the infection has spread to the bone. So she's on her way back to CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) for more intravenous antibiotic treatment.<br /><br />Please pray for healing.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-52370701155663426192009-07-26T16:45:00.000-07:002009-09-16T12:43:55.920-07:00THE MISSION: A Family of GodThanks to our own Kelly Tague for these awesome photos of some of our recent Mission gatherings.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSdD1V4UKaAZw14jabaO5KqALbKNq7sa_mqpwzgK8JbLyUi72Il_TnW1z670d-kKZCA5Y8vPsz-zf9qmjAaLD257rJEr6SDDDYqifr9ayYqvKWcb97lL7rwAu0lBftL53-hbn/s1600-h/COMMUNION_KONONIA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSdD1V4UKaAZw14jabaO5KqALbKNq7sa_mqpwzgK8JbLyUi72Il_TnW1z670d-kKZCA5Y8vPsz-zf9qmjAaLD257rJEr6SDDDYqifr9ayYqvKWcb97lL7rwAu0lBftL53-hbn/s320/COMMUNION_KONONIA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362919856506650626" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbW1uYnhX_2qX6ELlMIZJ05p51m0VWu1oYJSKwr20ZhgkqqBMWprLe5OeDL55-IvW-rL-MPGu1tA9vWOWW_qbpHLL6-ZhqRNsaVe5X5FaUbMpTAxB42dGbUHvAOiYwntbQhTa/s1600-h/BRENT_ADE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbW1uYnhX_2qX6ELlMIZJ05p51m0VWu1oYJSKwr20ZhgkqqBMWprLe5OeDL55-IvW-rL-MPGu1tA9vWOWW_qbpHLL6-ZhqRNsaVe5X5FaUbMpTAxB42dGbUHvAOiYwntbQhTa/s320/BRENT_ADE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362919692644493858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mckPgBjcPJYHeHnEXRHrY_WbvTld-By1QxNDR0cjMJuRJ7qtNx-hUuwgz_Q0pD-FpsKQj2q46CamRirCacgBmHiXoVJxXe77y9uM6huU7-Dv9OO2y7eWZdqdKIHxXbUTyqku/s1600-h/BIBLE_MISSION.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mckPgBjcPJYHeHnEXRHrY_WbvTld-By1QxNDR0cjMJuRJ7qtNx-hUuwgz_Q0pD-FpsKQj2q46CamRirCacgBmHiXoVJxXe77y9uM6huU7-Dv9OO2y7eWZdqdKIHxXbUTyqku/s320/BIBLE_MISSION.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362919630864445778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTclzY4aixyiI3mMNblW2dQxIQtFUWCcgNBN1BRAZWjY2vOyJ4W2w_RACLNECIBQJmR4icCCnsQYj6ezR5Fvyb1FrVBSWNiv_9RQ9w9QPETOtqZFnVn14GBzOLQQ_RAcdWDcLv/s1600-h/3_girls_mission.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTclzY4aixyiI3mMNblW2dQxIQtFUWCcgNBN1BRAZWjY2vOyJ4W2w_RACLNECIBQJmR4icCCnsQYj6ezR5Fvyb1FrVBSWNiv_9RQ9w9QPETOtqZFnVn14GBzOLQQ_RAcdWDcLv/s320/3_girls_mission.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362919555698058738" /></a><br /><br />See a whole lot more over <br /><a href="http://subversive1.blogspot.com/search?q=own+kelly+tague">HERE</a>Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-71358638547289131892009-06-19T17:18:00.000-07:002009-06-19T17:21:54.036-07:00THE CHURCH OF "ONE ANOTHER"The New Testament is full of letters written to instruct, not men of authority (pastors) but an entire Body of Believers who are called to submit to one another out of love as everyone submits to Christ Himself.<br /><br />Here are a few of the "one another" passages from the New Testament:<br /><br />John 13:14<br />Wash one another's feet. <br /><br />John 13:34 - <br />Love one another. <br /><br />Romans 12:10 - <br />Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. <br />Honor one another above yourselves. <br /><br />Romans 12:16 - <br />Live in harmony with one another. <br /><br />Romans 13:8 - <br />Love one another<br /><br />Romans 14:13 - <br />Stop passing judgment on one another.<br /><br />Romans 15:7 - <br />Accept one another.<br /><br />Romans 16:16 - <br />Greet one another with a holy kiss. <br /><br />1Cor 1:10 - <br />Agree with one another<br /><br />2Cor 13:12 - <br />Greet one another with a holy kiss. <br /><br />Galatians 5:13 - <br />Serve one another in love. <br /><br />Eph 4:2 - <br />Be patient, bearing with one another in love. <br /><br />Eph 4:32 - <br />Be kind and compassionate to one another<br />Forgive each other<br /><br />Eph 5:19 - <br />Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. <br /><br />Eph 5:21 - <br />Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. <br /><br />Col 3:13 - <br />Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. <br /><br />Col 3:16 - <br />Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,<br /><br />1Thes 5:11 - <br />Encourage one another and build each other up<br /><br />Heb 3:13 - <br />Encourage one another daily<br /><br />Heb 10:24 - <br />Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. <br /><br />James 4:11 - <br />Brothers, do not slander one another. <br /><br />1Peter 1:22 - <br />Love one another deeply, from the heart. <br /><br />1Peter 3:8 - <br />Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. <br /><br />1Peter 4:9 - <br />Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. <br /><br />1Peter 5:5 - <br />Be submissive to those who are older. <br />Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another<br /><br />1Peter 5:14 - <br />Greet one another with a kiss of love. <br /><br />1John 1:7 - <br />Have fellowship with one another<br /><br />1John 3:11 - <br />Love one another. <br /><br />1John 3:23 - <br />Love one another as he commanded us. <br /><br />1John 4:7 - <br />Love one another <br /><br />1John 4:11 - <br />Love one another. <br /><br />1John 4:12 - <br />Love one another<br /><br />2John 1:5 - <br />Love one another.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-23469039466722036462009-06-15T08:52:00.000-07:002009-06-15T08:54:42.715-07:00JON ZENS - SATURDAY, JULY 11THAuthor and theologian Jon Zens will be coming to Orange County to speak to the local Orange County house churches on Saturday, July 11th from 9am to 12pm. <br />(LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED) <br /><br />Event is Free. Must RSVP to attend. Please send an email to register or to get more info to: <br />ochousechurch@gmail.com<br /><br /><strong>About Jon Zens</strong><br />Dr. Zens has a wide-ranging theological background. He holds a B.A. in Biblical studies from Covenant College, a M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and a D.Min. from the California Graduate School of Theology. <br /><br />Zens' groundbreaking articles in the late 1970s, "Is There a 'Covenant of Grace'?" and "Crucial Thoughts on 'Law' in the New Covenant," were highly instrumental in developing what came to be called "New Covenant Theology." <br /><br />For the last thirty years, Jon has been the editor of a magazine entitled Searching Together. He's not only a NT scholar, but he's an expert on church history. Jon also served as a pastor for a number of years, but moved on after concluding that full reformation within the existing institutional church system was unworkable. <br /><br />Also, for the past thirty years he and his wife, Dotty, have been ministering in small fellowships concerning living under grace and learning to extend grace to others. <br /><br />If you'd like to read more about Jon Zens I've included a link to an excellent debate between Jon and Ben Worthington on hierarchy in the New Testament church <br /><a href="http://www.paganchristianity.org/zensresponds1.htm">HERE</a><br /> <br /><br />More details on this as we get closer to the date. <br /><br /><br />Blessings,Keith <br />http://www.missionhousechurch.com/ <br />http://www.ochousechurch.com/Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-59694400814492269532009-06-04T08:25:00.000-07:002009-06-04T08:30:43.785-07:00UPDATE: ILLEGAL BIBLE STUDY IN SAN DIEGOIn late May of 2009 county official overturned the warning issued to the Joneses.<br /><br />In a statement a county CAO Walt Ekard responded saying:<br /><br />"I have received dozens of e-mails and calls from people concerned about reports that the County is attempting to muzzle religious expression by shutting down a neighborhood Bible study.<br /><br />"As the Chief Administrative Officer for San Diego County, I want to say in the most direct terms: the County has never tried to stifle religious expression and never will."<br /><br />FULL STORY<br /><a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/biblestudy.asp">HERE</a><br /><br />Relax everyone. The issue is resolved. Our religious freedoms remain intact. This is still America.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-46878193824198062842009-05-28T15:44:00.001-07:002009-05-28T15:44:39.447-07:00BIBLE STUDY ILLEGAL IN SAN DIEGO?A local pastor and his wife claim a San Diego County official threatened escalating fines if they continued to hold Bible Studies in their home.<br /><br />FULL VIDEO CLIP VIA ABC NEWS SAN DIEGO <br /><a href="http://www.10news.com/video/19563319/">HERE</a><br /><br />So, what would I do if it suddenly became illegal to continue hosting house church gatherings in my home?<br /><br />What if it became illegal to continue passing out free groceries to the poor or the homeless?<br /><br />Would I continue to obey Jesus and risk being arrested, or thrown into prison, or fined thousands of dollars by the county?<br /><br />Maybe I'll find out sooner rather than later...?Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-20380888671432031982009-05-28T13:17:00.000-07:002009-05-28T13:25:49.522-07:00ROBERT HIGGINSFor the last several weeks I have been doing my best to spend time with Robert Higgins. He's a 77 year old man who lives alone in the motel where we serve each month.<br /><br />The manager of the motel, Pete, is the one who helped Robert get off the street and into a room there just over a year ago. Pete and I confer together and do our best to make sure that Robert has food, is doing well, and is cared for as much as we possibly can.<br /><br />Just about a year ago Robert fell and broke his arm very badly. They put a plate in his arm to help it heal but now, after 11 months of agony and endless back and forth visits to UCI for CAT Scans and MRI's, he is still in pain and unsure of what to do next.<br /><br />Today I took him lunch (he loves Taco Bell burritos) and we sat and talked about his situation. I prayed for him and he finally agreed to go and see an M.D. about his other symptoms - emphysema, vertigo, chronic fatigue. <br /><br />I've also been trying to help him get back in touch with his son (Robert Anderson Higgins) and his daughter (Cynthia Anne Higgins). So far I've had no luck getting in touch with either.<br /><br />As I stood up to leave his room this afternoon, Robert hung his head and said, "Thank you so much for keeping up with me, Keith" and I saw him pause and his face contorted and his eyes squeezed shut and I knew he was trying hard not to cry. <br /><br />I touched his shoulder. "I'm happy to do it, Robert," I said. "God bless you."<br /><br />Whether or not Robert ever gets in touch with his children again, and whether or not he ever gets his medical situation worked out, I think his greatest need is simply human contact. He needs to know he is loved. He needs to be reminded that God sees him and loves him and has not forgotten this little, fragile, old man.<br /><br />Pray for Robert today if you would. Pray that God would reveal more of Himself to Robert and bring healing to his heart, and to his soul.<br /><br />Amen.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-28335956889068989452009-04-08T09:09:00.001-07:002009-04-08T09:25:23.734-07:00Holy WeekWe started off by celebrating Palm Sunday in the back yard of Mary Ann's brother, Gordon. Together with many of Mary Ann's friends and family, we gathered to remember her life and celebrate her influence on our lives.<br /><br />While the children held crosses made from palm leaves, the adults stood up, one at a time and shared their memories of Mary Ann and how she had touched their lives. A circle of red-tailed hawks flew in a thermal over our heads as we lifted up our voices and sang "The Old Rugged Cross" together.<br /><br />I stood and reminded those who had gathered to remember to honor the living while they are with us, and to practice letting go. Letting go of toys to embrace responsibility. Letting go of fantasy to accept reality. Letting go of anger and hard feelings to embrace forgiveness and receive love. Letting go of life in this world to embrace eternal life in the Kingdom of God.<br /><br />Last night we gathered again, this time in the home of Betsy Kollberg, to celebrate the Passover Seder. It always amazes me that God instructed the Israelites to observe Passover on a specific date every year, and on that date to blow the shofar at 3pm when the passover lamb was slain, so that roughly 6,000 years later when His Son was hanging on the cross, ON THE SAME EXACT DAY, and they blew the shofar at 3pm, Jesus would say, "It is finished."<br /><br />On Friday we will celebrate Good Friday together in my home. We will enter quietly and move silently from station to station as families to tear cloth, drive nails, taste vineagar, touch a crown of thorns, tumble dice, and leave our red handprints on the same paper curtain. <br /><br />Afterwards, we will sit around a low table and light our candles, sing worship songs, share communion, and one by one voice thanksgiving for what Jesus has done for us, blowing out our candles as we go. When the room is dark we will leave as silently as we have come, or perhaps revisit one of the stations to reflect more on the love of Christ for us.<br /><br />On Sunday morning, we will meet in the morning, on a grassy hill, under a tree and surrounded by passing cars and sunlight we will raise our voices to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, read scriptures of the events and experiences of that first Easter, and share our thoughts and open our hearts to one another on resurrection and what it means for us.<br /><br />Aftewards, we'll return to our home and help the children create resurrection rolls and continue to share and worship and love one another as Christ loved us.<br /><br />I love Holy Week.Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-72114553281799135352009-02-08T16:44:00.000-08:002009-02-08T16:53:30.873-08:00Mary Ann is at home with Jesus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uxDt23wwDRYu4zy1T6xjcfH1taHFcac9hk1U6R8BAXC_4b1Og1_5u8Pvl7tH3LZ2hFbU869wODnKVP9mUEC9qZ1yzDhHc7aJEfp9_wGgk-5IeCT8SB-ihVr21jzYUOo5Va17/s1600-h/!!maryann.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uxDt23wwDRYu4zy1T6xjcfH1taHFcac9hk1U6R8BAXC_4b1Og1_5u8Pvl7tH3LZ2hFbU869wODnKVP9mUEC9qZ1yzDhHc7aJEfp9_wGgk-5IeCT8SB-ihVr21jzYUOo5Va17/s320/!!maryann.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300594272648338242" /></a><br /><br /><br />Last night our dear sister in Christ, Mary Ann, went home to be with Jesus. She had been battling brain cancer for several months and at last she is in her Savior's arms.<br /><br />Mary Ann was a light and a blessing to all of us at The Mission over the last year and her smile, her compassion and her great faith will remain with all of us forever.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABQCvhp5_Ioh-Cmo_9-oxPOHa6bUi-KHNIMuLEJzl0UsAzOrNMXCHn-r_naVYhtWTWx-hBC1cwi9w5oDaRiIoxfXxIOuOvZV1rZRqOl75VUgKzVS7O50PW58QhNw5YopD7tiq/s1600-h/STONES.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABQCvhp5_Ioh-Cmo_9-oxPOHa6bUi-KHNIMuLEJzl0UsAzOrNMXCHn-r_naVYhtWTWx-hBC1cwi9w5oDaRiIoxfXxIOuOvZV1rZRqOl75VUgKzVS7O50PW58QhNw5YopD7tiq/s320/STONES.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300593948172534178" /></a><br /><br />Today at House Church everyone took a stone and, one by one, each person stepped forward and laid their stone on this altar and shared how Mary Ann had blessed them. Then we sang her favorite hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" together and also "My Redemmer Lives".<br /><br />We were all very blessed to have known Mary Ann. She made our family complete and we look forward to the day when we can embrace her once again in the Kingdom of God.<br /><br />Peace,<br />Keith<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapHuk7HgL4h0Vsu01scPqG63T4qj953GW2jKPsWuzUcUM5U3_OC8CeJVRao3o3VvtA91b1IhwQ_wqBHVz_1rD2h_SwctU_7aockSwKjExAesx_0HLm4Fhyw001VPF56bAu-2I/s1600-h/!_MISSION.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapHuk7HgL4h0Vsu01scPqG63T4qj953GW2jKPsWuzUcUM5U3_OC8CeJVRao3o3VvtA91b1IhwQ_wqBHVz_1rD2h_SwctU_7aockSwKjExAesx_0HLm4Fhyw001VPF56bAu-2I/s320/!_MISSION.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300592340100446882" /></a>Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-31934114143283555112009-01-06T10:45:00.000-08:002009-01-06T10:50:10.334-08:00PICTURES FROM THE PURPLE PALACE IN TIJUANA, MEXICOOur house church has been blessed to serve the wonderful kids at the Purple Palace orphanage in Tijuana.<br /><br />Here are some photos from recent visits to bless these awesome children.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZWdd8WnycFT3ZVtHODuIPYIQ0OPjrrSZwZEa3OglJ-iTI6f7kc2Auw2gFWwUNZoeX4l8Xecc3hvAK5-PQASPdouLL4NrKWU57rk2k7lQwcNITFYrmHklJqvbvHCHhkAyZO47/s1600-h/100_1146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZWdd8WnycFT3ZVtHODuIPYIQ0OPjrrSZwZEa3OglJ-iTI6f7kc2Auw2gFWwUNZoeX4l8Xecc3hvAK5-PQASPdouLL4NrKWU57rk2k7lQwcNITFYrmHklJqvbvHCHhkAyZO47/s320/100_1146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288254594312226786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeupvkdN8t1DxZVa15QZiFQEoCZmd-er4Ilt-f94f60HDvUpspDog5SgRnK3pCMgmq9KBrix_A9auLLtdMlKYUGlGCthYBpEW8H7wLaoKhJ9QqA50t6vQDLus6_mZbgvIYp0b/s1600-h/100_1020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeupvkdN8t1DxZVa15QZiFQEoCZmd-er4Ilt-f94f60HDvUpspDog5SgRnK3pCMgmq9KBrix_A9auLLtdMlKYUGlGCthYBpEW8H7wLaoKhJ9QqA50t6vQDLus6_mZbgvIYp0b/s320/100_1020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288254518074544082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHhCGYOv9QesJFBh2GXkWUyRlK0dH-UVNl-rKD4U61XzSudTaIaOse3xhhbvXWrGLA4cCdfbEG6p13RvkNQ_4534tR3SSiYqMC0CFDqhlTXTiw-CJdWwwG_lNzqIZ4KiCXaCv/s1600-h/KELLY_KID.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHhCGYOv9QesJFBh2GXkWUyRlK0dH-UVNl-rKD4U61XzSudTaIaOse3xhhbvXWrGLA4cCdfbEG6p13RvkNQ_4534tR3SSiYqMC0CFDqhlTXTiw-CJdWwwG_lNzqIZ4KiCXaCv/s320/KELLY_KID.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288254406533152130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWZylCO6uBRA9kJD_QGbnJ1sXiz2A5msZ8ZdH_CTlQWwyKyRSsVrfW32zMgxVkbdFBZjumN7e1AkUbB8_Ps-SKj50LdtepNZGiFxlfUcTXqYV7b2thC5AAhkBA3kIJDK7QJ2y/s1600-h/MARLYS_GIRL_FIX_.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWZylCO6uBRA9kJD_QGbnJ1sXiz2A5msZ8ZdH_CTlQWwyKyRSsVrfW32zMgxVkbdFBZjumN7e1AkUbB8_Ps-SKj50LdtepNZGiFxlfUcTXqYV7b2thC5AAhkBA3kIJDK7QJ2y/s320/MARLYS_GIRL_FIX_.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288254290397827202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjdfs4tbnlRUlp34l2Q9p5ETkOczRNKYxQrs9qFGRsm9gHrHlSv8TogudD3IoLSSCFHaAcoaubeTduOuS46024SYobbhZ1Nf7q5HNmH7L7cpshmUYmXT9xijmHCn0fbjxhhvm/s1600-h/JKE_MRRY_GO.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjdfs4tbnlRUlp34l2Q9p5ETkOczRNKYxQrs9qFGRsm9gHrHlSv8TogudD3IoLSSCFHaAcoaubeTduOuS46024SYobbhZ1Nf7q5HNmH7L7cpshmUYmXT9xijmHCn0fbjxhhvm/s320/JKE_MRRY_GO.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288254214584767122" /></a>Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926328.post-46811543429826129582008-12-24T11:31:00.001-08:002008-12-24T11:35:15.151-08:00MOTEL CHRISTMAS - SUNDAY, DEC. 21While our family was in El Paso, Texas for vacation, our Mission House Church family was delivering Christmas gifts to the children (and our friends) at the California Studio Inn in Santa Ana, CA.<br /><br />Our church family was joined by our brothers and sisters in Christ from Orange Coast Christian Church who provided 50 boxes of food for the families living here.<br /><br />This is what Christmas is all about!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJWCILKwijRA2hwCc81i7QBRfsekAN5i2dy_INVDfIAkz_jNz8G1EzsS_okq8tURPXtyGhmsCG5L74mNShvCPQrODtEfRi6t6PrJEgBQSpEpOMhLvZyd8MLsoKDYFpJGVQ2WO/s1600-h/YOUKNOWJACK.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJWCILKwijRA2hwCc81i7QBRfsekAN5i2dy_INVDfIAkz_jNz8G1EzsS_okq8tURPXtyGhmsCG5L74mNShvCPQrODtEfRi6t6PrJEgBQSpEpOMhLvZyd8MLsoKDYFpJGVQ2WO/s320/YOUKNOWJACK.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283441890551977218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ9gquYaz4seuJNbyJB7GVsaERDtvROHCQNsZHDux2XRSDlFq4JFa2BBI7CWzLZSZlaBlbERFs4ZYOERshXIW6MBdxYtr4Y-UC9R8LK4LfnYJN5LKvIOiw1X_BeqwAk3KoLJF/s1600-h/MOTEL_CHRISTMAS2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ9gquYaz4seuJNbyJB7GVsaERDtvROHCQNsZHDux2XRSDlFq4JFa2BBI7CWzLZSZlaBlbERFs4ZYOERshXIW6MBdxYtr4Y-UC9R8LK4LfnYJN5LKvIOiw1X_BeqwAk3KoLJF/s320/MOTEL_CHRISTMAS2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283441824085759538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxhPOrCJhX3jG3ctUCBe21hsVi5wDgF2xdRXPkhrpweINrtvCHqS_9mzfGzqxvl-CjBQdWeZpODyfhs_w_CWH6q5x68XBorjpZKnjnLhKqdTucb85VEdUsXSbGPPlIs2LJaTe/s1600-h/JOSH_SANTA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxhPOrCJhX3jG3ctUCBe21hsVi5wDgF2xdRXPkhrpweINrtvCHqS_9mzfGzqxvl-CjBQdWeZpODyfhs_w_CWH6q5x68XBorjpZKnjnLhKqdTucb85VEdUsXSbGPPlIs2LJaTe/s320/JOSH_SANTA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283441745728747138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVOWaI0mATUNQ0fgC73pMXDh9Pn6Vs3JC05mzP_0kkcubQUeo_7Y8USxPdjnorH3w4jQc0boyTijQXd-1Z7d-IhRdCVZePiDGfWbYQbxHUGHRLq1TuQKow5mS8GaWg7nKYSwp/s1600-h/FOOD_BOXES.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVOWaI0mATUNQ0fgC73pMXDh9Pn6Vs3JC05mzP_0kkcubQUeo_7Y8USxPdjnorH3w4jQc0boyTijQXd-1Z7d-IhRdCVZePiDGfWbYQbxHUGHRLq1TuQKow5mS8GaWg7nKYSwp/s320/FOOD_BOXES.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283441631725490754" /></a>Keith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.com0