Don't forget to set your clocks ahead this weekend....

....or else you will be an hour late to church. And we know you don't want that to happen. Here is a quick update with everything going on:

1. Don't go to room 212 this Sunday, we are still in 105 for the time being. Kingdom Kids beat us to it.

2. Life Group details will come this Sunday morning. Stay tuned...

3. Kids' LTC performance is this Sunday night at 5:00 at Southeast. Come and check it out if you can.

4. Astros game on April 9 has been postponed because tickets were not available. New dates will be either May 14 or May 21.

5. We are good to go with Dinner 4 Four on Saturday, May 6.

RK

A thank you note

A couple of people sent me this thank you note from Habitat for Humanity, so I wanted to post it for all to read. Don't forget about our next Saturday to help on April 29. More details will come later. And is it just me or does Jason look like he has no idea what he is doing......

Dear Southeast Church of Christ Habitat Participants,

Just a quick note to say a huge thank you to all of you for the incredible work that y'all did on Saturday for Bay Area Habitat for Humanity. You all were such great workers and you all did a wonderful job framing and putting up the joists!! Another huge thank you goes out to the lunch crew from St. Christopher who provided such a delicious lunch - everyone worked so hard on Saturday and the food was really tasty!!

For those of you who took the time to come over to the 2 home dedications, I can't thank you enough. The families really appreciated all of you being there for their special moment. I'm not sure if you all know it or not, but the Padilla family (the 1st house we dedicated) has 5 children and they were living in a 2 bedroom trailer before they moved in to their home. Since the parents don't speak English, it was very difficult for them to articulate their feelings of joy. LaToya Barnes (the 2nd family) has been a single mom of 2 boys for most of her life and she never imagined being able to own a home before Saturday. Thank you all so much.

I've attached just a few pictures for you all to see - I can't send the entire file because it's huge!!

Finally, if any of you are interested in volunteering with Bay Area Habitat on a more regular basis, please email me - we have a variety of opportunities in construction, administrative, and counseling, and fundraising areas. It's a fabulous ministry and God can use it can change your life!!

Thanks again for putting your faith into action and supporting the ministry of Habitat for Humanity!
God's Peace,

Wendy Gorie
Church Relations Liaison
Bay Area Habitat for Humanity
281-286-1587


Also, we talked about the group Soulforce visiting the ACU campus this past Monday. Go to the link below to read about that day and how it all went. Thanks to Bekki for the link.

http://www.acu.edu/events/news/archives2006/060328_soulforcefollow.html

Check back tomorrow when I will have updated information for everything happening this weekend and in the weeks to come.

RK

This Sunday

Life Groups this Sunday are at the following locations:

Kirksey/Day
Ryan and Allison's house 6:15 PM
14803 Tumbling Falls
281-286-0563
Bring your bible

Gibson/Boudra
Group is meeting at the beach
more details available Sunday morning

Also, for those of you who know Brian Walton, who now lives in Orlando, there is a bridal shower this Sunday afternoon at 2:30 for his fiance Amy Harvey. All are welcome to attend.

Trying to understand

Is it just me or does it seem like Satan is really attacking our group lately? I don't mean like causing divisions or making people dislike one another or temptation. I am thinking more along the lines of giving us anguish in our lives, giving us grief, making us wonder why and how so many bad things can happen at one time.

Jack Baten
Maren & Regan
Jim Petty's cancer
The Irvines
Brian & Chelce Day
Dave Gibson's dad
Don Roberts
Claudia Hobbs

I really could go on a lot longer....

In our grief, in our trying to understand, do we doubt? I do. Do you ever wonder and cry out to God, "Why, God?! Why now, why so much? Don't you know how hard it is for us? Can't you see what me and my family are going through?" I've done that. I've done it recently.

You know, Michael Harbour always quotes John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble." Well, I'm sure glad I know that it will come, but nothing can prepare me and us for how hard the trials are; how difficult life becomes. Personally, all I can manage to say is "God, why didn't you give me a few more days with my grandfather? Is that too much to ask?"

As you know, I am a big proponent of the fact that there are a whole lot of people out there a lot smarter than I who can't explain God and His nature, so I don't even try. I take comfort in the fact that you don't have to have a Ph.D. or a 180 IQ to follow God and trust His glory and His plan. If we did understood God and why he allows us to go through trials, would we need Him? If we had His knowledge, would we rely on Him?

So how do we deal with these struggles? How do we handle this grief and pain? Is there an answer or a guide we can go to? Well, maybe not a guide, but an example.

Look at Jesus for a minute. How did he handle pain and loss and fear? When he lost his closest friend, Lazurus, he didn't just cry, he wept (John 11:34-35). When he was facing torture and death, he doubted, questioned and cried out for help (Matthew 26:39).

When Jesus faced grief and loss, he ran the gambit of emotions over and over again. And you know what? We can too. Cry out to God, search for Him, beg Him to show Himself to you, let Him hold you, let Him speak to you. If we ask him why He allows this world to give us so much pain, I think eventually we'll hear His answer:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world."

Sometimes I forget about the last part of that verse.

Love you all,
RK

Thanks for reading today. Have feedback or a question or an idea? Please leave a comment. We would love to have your feedback. Also, if you ever want to post to this site, let me know. I will give you everything you need.

Habitat for Humanity info

I hope everyone who signed up is still planning to attend this Saturday morning to help with the house we will be working on. Here is all of the info we have so far from Kami:

1. Meet at the church building at 7:15 am sharp! We will be leaving at 7:30 am regardless of who is not there. A map will be attached to the email that goes out today.
2. This Saturday, we will finish framing the house and begin to put the top-plate on as well as begin putting up the roof trusses. We also will finish finish roofing and siding 2 sheds so there will be plenty of work for the groups. We will also be present for a house dedication at noon that day! What an awesome thing to witness...
3. We will probably finish around 2 pm, but we may work longer depending on how tired work teams are.
4. If there is severe inclimate weather, we will not work on Saturday.
5. Work clothes are as follows - long pants, closed toed shoes (preferably work boots), baseball cap or hard hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, sunglasses or goggles (if handling power tools), hammer, measuring tape, work gloves. Please know that other people may use your personal tools. Habitat has a few tool belts, hard hats, and goggles on site, but if you have your own we ask that you bring them. We might be painting, so please wear clothes that you don't mind getting paint on.
6. Habitat has a large cooler of water on site and water bottles on site. LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.
7. Before you begin work, you must sign the volunteer labor sheet and the insurance waiver form. If your crew members have worked at the site previously, they do not have to resign the waiver form.

The picture you see is of the lady whose house we are building. Her name is Tycie Moore and she is a single mother of a 7 year old girl. She has been living with her parents trying to support them as her father has had cancer two separate times. She, unfortunately, does not receive any child support or food stamps, so this house will be an incredible gift to help improve their life.

Any other questions - call Kami at 832-221-8172.

rk

Important dates to keep in mind

March 4 - Broussard's moving date, 10:00 AM
March 18 - Habitat for Humanity, 7:45 AM @ Southeast
April 29 - Habitat for Humanity, 7:45 AM @ Southeast

Also, don't forget about our new Wednesday worship hour. The new time is 7:45-8:45 PM. The temporary room is in the portable building. You can get in touch with Mark Pape, Matt Semanek or Jeremy Gibson for more info.

RK