is this Christmas Joy? I don't know. but it is cool.

Marshall Family Christmas Lights 2008- Full Show in Hi-Def! from Joey Marshall on Vimeo.

100! - 10!

this is the church that gave $20,000 to The Bridge about six months ago. the three guys in this video are from their leadership and they are encouraging people to give from their own personal finances to the ministry of the church. awesome!

Baptism

Baptism is all about God's grace and what God has done for us.

In baptism, God claims us as his own and we are cleansed from the guilt of the sin condition into which we have been born.

For more in depth explanation of Baptism, check out:

By Water and The Spirit

If you are up for discussion on the subject, check out the bridge facebook group:

perfect fit

considering the recent weather (rain) and the recent sermon (grace) here is a music video that is a perfect fit: Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew

Risk-Taking Service

Rennie Curran has a great story.
watch this video and then read the quote:



quote from an interview Rennie Curran gave to writer David Hale:

“Just having the younger guys, I think that’s really what opened my eyes to the whole leadership thing is having the younger guys come in who were confused at times and would look to me and reach out to me for help. I was able to do that because of the experience that I had and that really just helped me in terms of developing that leadership. You can’t be a leader without being a servant and being able to help your teammates and just really bring up the ability of the guys around you, raise that attitude and set the tempo.”

it is the same in the Kingdom of God: taking the lead means serving everyone else first.
when the church does this in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable or risky, that is usually when God shows up.

Radical Hospitality

This is Chapter 53 from The Rule of St. Benedict. Benedict of Nursia lived around 500 AD is considered by many to be the founder of Western monasticism. The Rule was his instruction to his fellow believers on how to live following Christ in the monastic lifestyle.

Chapter 53: On the Reception of Guests

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ,
for He is going to say,
"I came as a guest, and you received Me" (Matt. 25:35).
And to all let due honor be shown,
especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims.

As soon as a guest is announced, therefore,
let the Superior or the brethren meet him
with all charitable service.
And first of all let them pray together,
and then exchange the kiss of peace.
For the kiss of peace should not be offered
until after the prayers have been said,
on account of the devil's deceptions.

In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving or departing,
let all humility be shown.
Let the head be bowed
or the whole body prostrated on the ground
in adoration of Christ, who indeed is received in their persons.

After the guests have been received and taken to prayer,
let the Superior or someone appointed by him sit with them.
Let the divine law be read before the guest for his edification,
and then let all kindness be shown him.
The Superior shall break his fast for the sake of a guest,
unless it happens to be a principal fast day
which may not be violated.
The brethren, however, shall observe the customary fasts.
Let the Abbot give the guests water for their hands;
and let both Abbot and community wash the feet of all guests.
After the washing of the feet let them say this verse:
"We have received Your mercy, O God,
in the midst of Your temple" (Ps.47[48]:10).

In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims
the greatest care and solicitude should be shown,
because it is especially in them that Christ is received;
for as far as the rich are concerned,
the very fear which they inspire
wins respect for them.

As Promised from The Bridge Prayer Time on 08.09