Presentation for Hebrews 8

A Hidden Plan on Prezi

A Hidden Plan, Hebrews 8

Modern Orphans of Oklahoma

Last week I had lunch with a group of church leaders around Tulsa to talk about how the church can help take care of the orphans that find themselves in foster care. For years the church has allowed the state to take care of this responsibility. Yes, we have had our children’s home, but it just met the needs of those children who fall through the cracks of the state program. The most common response from Christians is to adopt children internationally and to send money to help orphans in poor countries of the world. Those are great things but why are we closing our eyes to the need in our own backyard?

Not only has the church failed to help the state, the state has failed to reach out to the church for support. The state has struggled for years to have enough foster homes. It has struggled to have enough employees. It has struggled to have volunteers in shelters. Because of these struggles the children who find themselves in foster care, seldom because of any fault of their own, are the ones who suffer. Last Wednesday night there were 58 children in the shelter in Tulsa because they did not have enough families to place them. Finally, the state is asking the church for help.

The State of Oklahoma is partnering with communities of faith through the 111 project (www.111project.org). The needs are endless. There is a need for foster families, respite care providers, volunteers to help with paperwork in the DHS office, and for those who can support those who commit to be foster families. I believe there is a place for all of us. Will you pray about how God can use you to help with this serious problem?

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

Complete Replacement

Religion or Relationship

Hebrews 7:1-10

Rent or Own?

Dan T. Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-a, posted on his blog this week about the importance of taking ownership and pride in the things in your life. He mentioned he heard someone say, “You know, no one washes a rental car. You have to own it to care that much…” What a true statement. I always thought that was the best part of renting a car. Someone else is responsible to clean it up and make sure that the maintenance is taken care of. I never check the sticker to see if the rental needs an oil change. I use it and then take it back.

What an interesting thought as it pertains to the church. Do you see the church as someone else’s or your own? I was visiting with a pastor friend of mine recently about training new church members. He said that he calls his class “Ownership Class”. He does not want just members but owners. Membership is what you have at a country club. Those types of people come into the church wanting to be served. They make a mess and expect someone else to clean it up. They are more concerned about being comfortable than helping others to feel comfortable. He is after owners. It is the owner who invests in the organization. It is the owner who cleans up after themselves and everyone else. The owner is invested in the overall success of the organization. May God bless us at Eastern Heights as we develop our membership to take ownership in the ministry of our church.