MLK Jr. quote: "If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers & sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive."

Preacher. Politician. Prophet. Peacemaker.

Father. Son. Man. Human.

So this morning at the Miller hacienda, things started pretty gently. Each Miller peep took advantage of a few extra winks (visiting Miller cousins included:) since today is an official holiday for most public school kids. One by one they emerged from their slumber and before too long, the Wii was fired up and each lil person was either playing or watching the others play. And as I enjoyed the simplicity of the moment I realized, these kids have no real clue as to why they even have off today - and it's mostly my fault!

Is it because I am not aware enough myself? That I too take for granted the greater value of today and remembering the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his sacrifice and gift to humanity? That if it was important enough to me, I would actually do something different than take advantage of the day for...ME! Seems like my response to this day is the opposite to the way that MLK lived out his life. And death.

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

Maybe the best way to say thank you & remember: to love like that.

Grace and peace.

Craig

So I'm studying for Sunday, and this verse is haunting me...in a Godly, ghostly, cool kinda way:

"Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human viewpoint-in terms of natural standards of value." 2 Cor. 5:16

WOW! Shazam! How are we doing with that!?! That is big. We'll dig a 'lil deeper Sunday...

See you then...

PC

great night tonight! what is w.w.w.? check it:

w.onder : 30 minutes of intimate worship, in awe and wonder at the maker of all things. (All things declare your glory...)

w.hisper: 30 minutes of listening for the voice of the maker of all things. (Elijah heard God in the whisper...)

w.eigh: 30 minutes of real time debrief and interactions with friends to weigh what the maker of all things said to us.

tonight was awesome! couple nuggets...naked and unashamed before Him...let the suppose to-s and the should be-s go...new eyes:what do you see God when you look at me/when I look at others...a King both friendly and firece...

just some 'snippets' of our moments tonight. don't miss next week!

grace and peace,

pc

300.People.

Last week we started our new series 300. Eric Krause did a great job clearly reminding us that we are better together. Just like the 300 foxes tied together by 2 that destroyed the Philistines fields of grain. Or 2 draft horses living and pulling together that can do over 4 times as much as one. Or the power of 300 Spartan warriors whose job was to protect their brother with their own shield and trust their Spartan brothers with their life. When our lives are tied together they are always more powerful than lived alone. WE are ValleyChurch! We can do more together.

300.Seconds.

Time. It really is the most valuable commodity on the planet. We often don’t think much about how we trade, barter or exchange, or often waste time, but in reality, we exchange the most valuable, priceless, non-refundable gift that we have every day with every second that passes.

300 seconds. That’s 5 minutes. That’s 6 thirty-second television commercials. That’s “How much longer you need to get ready? Just 5 more minutes!”

But in 5 minutes, many people’s lives have been changed forever. This week we will look at multiple examples of how 300 seconds changed the lives of several biblical characters. We will see how our lives hold the power to be affected and become effective in the context of the lives of others, and sometimes, lives change forever in just 300 seconds or less.

Thank you for riding "LIFE". Please keep you arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Should you experience any discomfort while on this ride...well...tough noogies!!!

[Don't you wish LIFE came with a more straight forward disclaimer?]

"...on this ride that is LIFE, you WILL experience: laughter and pain; joy and sadness; complete loss and absolute gain; freedom and slavery; love and hate; disappointment and contentment; anger and empathy..."

[You get the point.]

BUT! Thankfully, when you become a Christ-follower, all these things instantly and miraculously change to ONLY: the good; the happy; the non-difficult; the painless; angels singing 24/7 in your ears with no anxiety or distractions anywhere; life submits to your every whim and fancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mmmm, nope. it doesn't work like that, does it.]

For the next four weeks, come expecting the unexpected. Come ready to be shaken a bit by the clunky wooden tracks. Come wanting to be wowed by the view from the top of the ferris wheel. Come like a child on their first trip to the amusement park...

[Expectant...anxious...excited...anticipating the unpredictable...]

Come expecting a THRILL RIDE!