I am reading a very interesting book by K. C. Cole called “First You Build a Cloud and Other Reflections on Physics as a Way of Life”. You don’t have to be a physics geek like me to enjoy this one. She writes in a very refreshing way about physics that gives anybody a better perspective on the world/universe around us.

The purpose of this book is to reconnect our science minds to those things we see in everyday life not just isolated things seen in the lab. Why are we not amazed every time we see a cloud? A cloud is the only answer to Bob Miller’s question of “How would you hold a hundred tons of water in thin air with no visible means of support?” Have you ever thought about a cloud in that way? Do we even look up to the sky any more?

When was the last time you thought about how we revolve around the sun in just the special orbit that keeps our temperature just right to sustain life? How the earth revolves on it’s axis at just the right speed? How plants need carbon dioxide and expel oxygen and how we need oxygen and expel carbon dioxide? How electrons are moved through conductive materials from some far away generator so that my laptop can have the power it needs for it to be on?

Scientists are asking the great questions of “Why?” and “How?” But I have a problem with their answer to the “ultimate how and why?” The “ultimate how and why” is how did all these “laws and theories” come about to make the universe and why. The scientists’ answer is “Just because. It just happened.” Reminds me of a bumper sticker.

It’s like the old joke where some scientist approach God and say that they don’t need Him anymore because we humans can do it all ourselves. God then says, “OK, let’s have a contest then. Each of us will make a human being.” The scientist then reach down and pick up some dirt to which God says, “No, no. You have to make your own dirt first.”

For me the answer to the ultimate how and why is much easier to understand. Because I believer there is a God in the equation who is so great and powerful that He created it all to work in this harmonious way for the purpose of glorifying Him and enjoying Him forever.

So tonight as you look up to the sky and see the stars, think about whether you think they “just happened” or do you believe there is a God big enough to create and place them in just such a way that the universe works. Next time you turn on the light, think about how the energy that is being expelled from the light bulb in such a way that you are able to see. Then ask yourself “How were our eyes created to be able to see that form of energy?”. Was it just by chance or was made so by a purposeful Creator who wanted you to see the beauty that He created?

Contents:

1) Ministry update
2) Our commissioning
3) Our blog
4) Where we are at

Dear Friends and Family,

1) 2 e-mails in one day! First we wanted to share our ministry’s e-connect newsletter with you. Published monthly it’s a great way to keep up to date on the awesome things God is doing throughout Europe through eDOT. If you aren’t already signed up you can at
http://edot.birkey.com/listsignup.asp?list_id=15 . Also the ministries webpage has been updated considerably. Have a visit at http://www.gemedot.com/index.asp

2) This last Sunday we were commissioned by Lake Forest Church! In a 5 minute video we were able to share our ministry with both services and then we were blessed with committing to some vows and then having the elders and our families lay hands on us and pray for us. We feel the blessing of “being sent”. For those that were there we are so glad that you were able to be a part of that and we know there were many more who were there in spirit.

3) For those of you who want to keep up with us more often and/or read some funny/thought provoking/interesting blogs (like an online diary) make sure you visit www.Roesgarden.com. Several times a week Courtney has something to say

4) Where we are at: We are currently 76% supported with $1,850 in ongoing monthly pledges left to raise. This means about 37 families joing our team at $50/month. We are talking with 2 new churches as well as a few others putting us under consideration for their 2007 budget. We are still praying toward an early fall departure. For those who have been listening this is about our 4th estimate at a departure time. God has kept our feet itchy but here. We have learned really great lessons about trusting Him for our timing, as well as many other valuable lessons during this waiting period.

Watching and waiting,

Courtney, Krista and Alex Roes

Would you believe that the picture on the left is where Krista and I got married? If you said “No”, then you are right because that is not the place we got married almost 14 years ago (August 8th, 1992) however it is what will be built on the spot where we were married.

Yesterday we were driving down Woodlawn Road past the church where we first met (and got married) when we saw a sign out front advertising a demolition company and showed these new “flats” that are to be built. Forest Hill Church was the church that was at that site when we met and a week later the church moved to its present location on Park Road. When we got married the building was being used by a college and a church start that a friend of ours was pastoring.

Its weird because I always expected to come back from Europe with Alex (currently 5 yrs old) and do a tour of Charlotte, NC showing him all the different places his grandparents, mom & dad, and the rest of the family lived and I always thought I would be able to take him by the church we were married in. But that dream is no more. Oh well.

The “Emerging Church” is an interesting concept that is arising in the Christian culture. I am always on the lookout for different articles, books and websites that talk about the subject. I don’t think this is the latest fad in churches but is really a movement that is taking church past the post-modern approach. The problem most have with “Emerging Church” is that they don’t know how to define it so they don’t know whether it is friend or foe.

There are some that define “Emerging” as reaching a certain generation (usually the 20 to early 30 somethings). There are some that define “Emerging” as reaching those that are more creative and/or artistic in thought and lifestyle. There are some that see “Emerging” as being just the opposite of traditional and beyond contemporary.

I guess my thoughts on it are that you can not define the “Emerging Church” by the people they minister to or the style of worship. I think “Emerging Church” is an attitude. I think those that are moving in the “Emerging” style are creatively contextual to the culture they are engaging. How’s that for moving in a triple “C” way? That means that if the culture that they are trying to have an impact on is made of artist/creative types in their 20’s then they are intentional in having artistic/creative ways of reaching that community. However, if they are reaching a culture that is embedded with tradition, then they use those traditions to reveal God to that culture.

It is a matter of attitude. Just because someone is doing something outside the “normal” church thing, doesn’t mean they are “Emerging” - especially if they are just doing it just to do something different. It’s when they are purposeful in creating ways that reach those they are trying to minister to in a way that is in sync with the culture. Therefore, in my definition (which you may or may not agree with) - a church doing all the “traditional” forms of worship and other “church” things may be an “Emerging Church” if that is the way of being intentional of reaching the culture that embraces those forms of relating to God. But they can not be doing them just because that’s the way they have always done them nor to just be different. “Emerging” is about enaging the culture.

Today was our commissioning by our sending church, Lake Forest Church. We were commissioned with another couple in our church that is going to La Paz, Bolivia. The reason for the timing is because the other couple leaves this week as he is going to be working as a principal at an international school and they have to get ready before the school year begins.

Thank you to those of you that were able to attend. It was wonderful seeing ya’ll there to support us. It really means a lot. Also, we want to thank those of you that came up to use afterwards and said that you want to help us get moved over there by becoming a part of our financial support team. We are at 76% of our monthly needs so every bit helps. Please continue to pray for the rest of our support to come in so we can make the move to Europe. Once we hit 90% we can buy our tickets and set our date.

For those of you that missed this morning, feel free to watch the video we showed during the commissioning. God bless!!!