Blessing Local Schools #faithinaction
We often hear laments about churches not being able to “get into the schools”. Most of the time, we’re trying to get in on our terms
instead of thinking of ways to be a blessing (see Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:3-4). We found one way that is enthusiastically accepted 100% of the time at our local schools: stuffing gift baskets full of goodies for teacher’s lounges at the beginning of the school year, holidays, & end of school. This year as part of our Faith in Action weekend, we focused on snacks, healthy & not so healthy. We’ve also done baked goods & office supplies. And always with a note of encouragement.
Praying for our local schools!
What are other ways that you or your church have been a blessing to your local schools?
What if every teachers lounge was filled with encouragement from local churches all year long?
The Church Planter’s Kid
Born 8 days after the very first service of our first church plant in South Lousiana, which started in an un-air conditioned fire station.
- Because his dad’s a church planter, until he was four we would drive past a fire station and he would yell “church” and when we drove by a steepled church building he would yell “space ship.”
- Because his dad’s a church planter, the first time we attended a church besides ours on Sunday, he asked where their fire truck was and why their chairs were so long (pews).
- Because his dad’s a church planter, he likes to hang out in coffee shops and has great bedside manner in hospitals.
- Because his dad’s a church planter, he doesn’t have as much as many kids in our area, but never complains.
- Because his dad’s a church planter, he doesn’t know that you shouldn’t wear shorts to church or that you shouldn’t be close friends with people of another race or class.
- Because his dad’s a church planter, he knows who Rick Warren & John Piper are, & asked every Friday morning, “Do we have a Block Party this weekend?”
HE TURNED TEN YESTERDAY and I’m looking forward to seeing what God does in the future with this church planter’s kid. Happy Birthday Jack!!!!!
Reading: Easy #OnMission Opp
“The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.” ~ US Justice Dept
Over 70% of inmates in America cannot read above a fourth grade level.
Want to be On Mission? Get involved in a tutoring/reading program at the local school, Community Center, or start one at your church.
Our Association is working with STAIR (Start the Adventure In Reading) which targets 2nd graders in at-risk communities. Hoping to open several sites this fall. Message me to get involved.
Could one hour a week of our time save a life?
13 Years!
“Find a good spouse, you find a good life-and even more: the favor of God!” Prov 18:22 (MSG) 
Reflecting this morning on 13 years of marriage to my gift from God, Heather Johnson Corley. Last year I wrote 12 things I’m thankful for after 12 years of marriage. I’ve updated my list & added one.
- “Find a good spouse, you find a good life-and even more: the favor of God!” Proverbs 18:22 (MSG). Thank God for showing His favor by giving me you!
- I started noticing in year one – People like me better when you’re around. Thanks for completing me.
- Finally realized around year three – I am better when you’re around. Thanks for making me better than I am.
- Two are better than one, because they never quit at the same time. Thanks for helping me persevere through tough times.
- It’s OK to not iron the tucked in portion of the shirt. Thanks for helping me to not sweat small stuff.
- A mother’s voice is a powerful weapon (Proverbs 31:26). Thanks for being a great voice of encouragement & empowerment to my boys.
- Unselfishness is a pre-requisite for success in almost everything, especially marriage. Thanks for demonstrating how to put others first so clearly.
- I’ve noticed, families that serve together make a greater impact & have more joy over the long haul. Thanks for serving along side me and opening my eyes to new opportunities everyday.
- Marriage is humiliating, because you can’t hide who you really are. Thanks for being patient and forgiving.
- Beauty is only skin deep, and I’m thankful for a wife who’s smokin hot, inside and out.
- Peach cobbler and red meat are still my favorites. Thanks for always going out of your way to know my favorites.
- “Lane, you know we only hired you, b/c we met your wife.” Thanks for inspiring confidence in me and others. I’m a better man because of you.
- And now we’ve got a little girl to grow up to be just like you!
Highlight of My Week
Baby Kate is 12-weeks old. She likes bottles. Her favorite word is “Ooooo….” And she’s the smartest baby to ever slobber this side of eternity. And, of course I’m wrapped around her finger. :)).
Faith in Action Needed
Dirt floors, no running water, the stench of open sewage, rats eating through the walls. This describes a home, not in a third world country, but in a wealthy suburban community in St. Tammany Parish. We found this family 3 years ago & I couldn’t believe the conditions they were living in. I told other people about it and they said, “I drive by that house all the time. I had no idea.” Over the past few years, Bridge Church, through Faith in Action has tried to improve their quality of life & be an encouragement to this family. This week, I’m excited for them, b/c they’re finally getting new floors thanks to Volunteers of America & on Sunday, during our quarterly Faith In Action Sunday we’ll be making other repairs to the home as well as cleaning up the yard. Still much left to do beyond new floors. They are still w/o running water to parts of the house & they have a lot of electrical problems.
Faith in Action Sunday is about not being content with just driving by. I don’t want to be a Drive By Disciple. Driving by the needs of the world on my way to church meetings. Through Faith in Action, we can bring Good News to neighborhoods in Tangible ways & keep the story of God’s provision & work spreading.
Every time there’s a 5th Sunday in a month we take that week and serve instead of soak. Check out some of the reasons why & videos from past FIA Sunday’s here. Check out some of our other projects for this FIA Weekend here. Also, suggest a project as you see the needs of your community.
Disabled sons bedroom.
Living room with new floor joists.
Back door. Porch repairs to be made Sunday.
Have You Been Squeezed Lately?
Each week us church goers, like sponges, sit and soak up great teaching and preaching
from professional and highly trained clergy, high quality Bible Study materials and devotionals, praise and worship music that moves us to experience God, and many, like me, listen to more great teaching and preaching through podcasting and conferences. Here’s the question: What’s next for the SPONGE after it’s has soaked? It SOURS and becomes unusable. Almost nothing is more disgusting than a sour sponge. No one wants to pick it up, it stinks up the entire kitchen, and most of the time at our house we just throw them out.
As a Christian, I’ve had seasons of my life that can be described as SOUR. The sour Christian is sour toward others – nothing meets their standard, no sermon is good enough, they and their class or group or church are the only ones doing it right. No one wants to be around the sour Christian and he/she doesn’t really care to be around them. Being right matters more than being generous and graceful. (For a Biblical illustration of a Sour Christian see the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 and watch for the older Brother).
What’s the remedy for keeping sponges from getting sour in the sink and in the church? A GOOD SQUEEZE. A good wringing out. With the sponge, by hand. But how is the Christian squeezed? Two ways:
1) Through Suffering. When I’ve lost a loved one, or experienced discouragement, or dealt with sickness, or faced financial struggles, or walked with others who’ve experienced these and worse, I have been squeezed. I have had to put to use all that I know about God and His word. That’s why God’s word tells us that there is great benefit to suffering. See James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5.
2) Through Serving. You don’t have to wait to be squeezed through suffering. Give yourself away and be emptied out through serving others. As we give ourselves away as Christians, we are allowing God to squeeze us and use what He’s placed in us for His good and glory. As we serve others, we experience more of God and the joy of being used by Him and He continually fills us.
What are you doing that squeezes you? Church leader, is your church providing opportunities for people to serve and give themselves away on behalf of others?
This weekend, my faith family will be squeezing ourselves out through Faith in Action Sunday. Every time there’s a 5th Sunday in a month we take that week and serve instead of soak. Check out some of the reasons why & videos from past FIA Sunday’s here. Check out some of our projects for this FIA Weekend here.
Everyone is invited. Come out and get squeezed with us.
Faith or Feelings?
by Martin Luther
Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God—
Naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose word cannot be broken.
I’ll trust in God’s unchanging word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
His word shall stand forever!
Heard this earlier this week & it stuck with me. What’s the basis of your belief & your life? Faith or Feelings?
Helping Churches Look Outward: A Recap of our Faith-in-Action Roundtable
A 2006 survey of churches found that “nearly 95% of the churches’ ministries were for the members alone. Indeed, many 
churches had no ministries for those outside the congregation” (found in Tom Rainer article 7 Deadly Sins of Dying Churches). Well today it seems a growing number of churches are looking outside the walls as they strategize for ministry & missions opportunities. And immediately outside the walls to the local community, not just overseas. Seeing this trend in our area, the Northshore Baptist Association recently sponsored a Faith in Action Roundtable to collaborate with churches who are doing hands on ministry projects off campus. Here is the Handouts from that meeting which includes thoughts on why we should, how to get started, and a lot of tips & tricks & helpful forms that a church can use in planning ministry opps.
Lots of reason to look outward:
- Increasing needs & decreasing government funds for the needy.
- More lanes needed for people to serve through the church.
- Increasing number of people who are out of the pool of current church outreach methods. Higher % of churches fishing for the same 40% of the people.
Looking forward to future Roundtable’s & Collaboration with Outward Focused churches.
And here’s a few other individual forms that are useful for planning projects:
- Work Site Info Form-English
- Work Site Info Form-Spanish
- Res Safety Awareness Form- English 2010
- Res Safety Awareness Form-Spanish 2010
- Access Ramp Material List
- Blank Material List
- Example Paint List
- Roofing Material List
Special thanks to Seth Green, a World Changers Construction Coordinator, for his help with our Roundtable.
Lane Corley 