AMEN by Adrain Pass

Amen

When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now fill me in,
Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of shame and sin.
He said, your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink,
Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - I think.
I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen,
Look, I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say my body could be killed and left to rot and stink,
Oh, yeah, that sounds terrific, Lord, I say Amen - I think.

But, Lord, look, there must be other ways to follow you, I said,
I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed.
Well, yes, he said, you could just put up with sneers and scorn and spit,
Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - a bit.
A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,
Look, I’m still not entirely sure, could we just run through that again?
You said I could put up with sneers and scorn and spit,
Well, yes, I’ve made my mind up, and I say, Amen - a bit.

Well I sat back and thought a while, then I tried a different ploy,
Now, Lord, I said, the Good book says that Christians live in joy.
That’s true he said, you’re going to need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,
So do you want to follow me, I said, Amen - tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Lord, I’ll say it then, that’s when I’ll say Amen,
You see, I’ve got to get it clear, let’s just run through that again?
You say that I will need the joy, to bear the pain and sorrow,
Well, yes, I think I’ve got it straight, I’ll say Amen - tomorrow.

He said, Look, I’m not asking you to spend an hour with me
A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,
The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit,
Now tell me, will you follow me? And I said Amen – No, I quit.
I’m awfully sorry Lord I said, I’d like to follow you,
But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to do.
He said forget religion then, and you think about my Son,
And you tell me if you’re man enough to do what he has done.

Are you man enough to see the need, are you man enough to go,
Are you man enough to care for those that no one wants to know,
Are you man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,
And battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.
And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,
The moment of betrayal by the kisses of your friend,
Are you man enough to hold your tongue, are you man enough to cry?
And when nails break your body - are you man enough to die?
Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,
Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,
Are you man enough to follow me, I ask you once again?
I said, Oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said Amen.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen,
I said, Oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said, Amen.

Adrian Pass

Depraved Indifference

You're a Reformer

Blitz Build 2011

A group will leave for Tuscaloosa at 10:15 from Landmark for the move in. I would love for any of you who are able to go with us!

Some of you have asked for more details on this project. The vast majority of materials and contractors (ie. electrical, plumbing, etc) were donated. Each student paid $225 per person for the week (which included their food). The lot was also donated. And is located on the same block where several other University Church members live (or will live soon). The house is close to 1100 sq feet. All of the framing and OSB was constructed in the UCC bus barn prior to our arrival.

Total cost was 12k. Which was paid for by students and other donations.

From Sam Evans
today i arrived home from the best spring break of my life!
yes, i, along with about 70 other volunteers, built a house for a woman in need, but it was filled with more than just that. much more.
in the community of West Circle,in Northport, Alabama, where the Brown House and the Pierces are, this group of people had the visible goal of building a house in a week for an elderly woman confined to a wheelchair, but this is just the beginning. many more families are planning to move to this area, continue to build relationships, and, most importantly, share with them and unconditional love only found in Him.
this is our calling as christians. to love others as God has loved us. unconditionally.
even though this is stated countless times in the Bible, it never really stuck until i saw it in action this past week. not only in the way the kids, visitors, and the inhabitants of west circle were treated, but also how i was treated.
i was the only highschooler there and was honestly expecting to be blown off a little by everyone. and after this week, i am proud to say it was the very opposite. from the very moment i got to tuscaloosa i became completely overwhelmed! it went from me thinking id be sitting on the sidelines all week to being included in everything and building relationships with everyone there.
after this week, i can honestly say i have never met a group of people so genuinely kind, patient, and loving than the blitz build team.
i mean, it was just thing, after thing, after thing, after thing. everyday.
even the little things such as being asked if i wanted to ride with someone to go get supplies, coming in at 4 am and seeing the Amy had washed all my clothes, being invited to go hang out at the lake saturday night for a few hours just to relax, or even just being asked to sit at a table at dinner, overwhelmed me completely to almost speechlessness.
you all displayed the greatest love and patience i have ever witnessed! and i am still in awe of how God has worked through all of you this past week!
thank you for being so caring, loving, kind, generous, hospitable, gracious, patient, incredible, and completely Spirit-filed!
thank you to everyone apart of this past spring break that made it more than i could have ever hoped for. i have truly been blessed.
Text
short and sweet. this week has been completely awesome in every way possible and is full of Him in every aspect. ive been so blessed to stay with Adam, Amy, Reed, and Wilkes Pierce in the Brown House this week! they are an absolutely incredible family with a humungous heart for people in need. hearing their story and their goals and just what their focus is, is amazing.
altogether, fantastic week so far and it’s only have way over! more updates to come.
Text
this week, spring break, ive come to tuscaloosa to work with the university christian ministry (ucm) and landmark campus ministry (lcm) to build a house for ms. mattie, an elderly woman confined to a wheelchair.
today went amazing! i arrived and immediately got to work along side others from ucm, while lcm was running an hour and a half behind.
the walls of the house are pre-built by volunteers over the past month in the university churchs bus barn, so it not a lot of work, right? umm, thats entirely false. haha. a house is more than walls. theres plumbing, electicity, sheetrock, paint, carpet, roof, etc. and the whole process of moving the walls to the site.
and as we kept moving walls to the trailer, i noticed phrases written on the door frames. different scriptures talking about God being a fortress, phrases casting out fear, and thoughts promoting love and compassion in the house.
this really hit me hard. i mean, it seems simple, but having all that on the house, itself. not somewhere hanging by a nail on the wall serving as decoration, but on the innermost parts of the house.
then it hit me. this is exactly how we should be.
not only wearing the t-shirt with bible verses on them or talking about God, but having His word written inside of us, on our hearts, in our minds.
you can always take a shirt or a bracelet off, or remove a sign or picture from a wall, but you can never remove those truths without demolishing the house completely.
the Word is true and everlasting. it never changes. its all powerful. its a light in the darkness. its peace. its security. its wisdom. its perfect. its Him.



Tuscaloosa News Article

Spring Break Fund Raiser "Parents' Night Out" Feb 11th

PARENTS' NIGHT OUT- February 11 from 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Would you like to spend more quality time with your spouse? Of course you do! We'd like to offer you a great deal: a night out with your spouse and a night of fun for your children. The Landmark Campus Ministry is raising money for their Spring Break Mission Trip to serve the underprivileged populations in Tuscaloosa, AL, and we've planned a Parents' Night Out that will benefit everyone. Drop your kids off at the church building, and while you are enjoying a relaxing evening, your children will be entertained with movies, games, and pizza. Price is $15 for one child, $25 for two, and $40 for three or more. Keep an eye out for college students with sign-up sheets before and after Sunday morning services. The number of children we can accept is limited, so reserve your spot soon! Questions? Want to sign up? Nathan@landmarkchurch.net or KatieA@landmarkchurch.net

Update from the Brown House in Tuscaloosa!

College students, adults, and churches working together to show Christ.

Michael Frost "Following Jesus Into Mission: Acts 8"

http://www.dts.edu/media/play/world-evangelization-conference-michael-frost/
One of my favorite speakers, Michael Frost, speaking on Acts 8 at the World Evangelism Conference at Dallas Seminary. 1. To Whom Have You Been Sent? 2. What Chariots Do You Need to Climb Into? 3. Trust the prevenience grace of God. (trust that God is already at work where he is sending you). Check it out!

Frontiers All Around Us

"maybe the world breaks on purpose so we can have work to do"

Where Good Ideas Come From

Just think, the good idea could become great if you connect with the person with the missing piece of the puzzle.

Service Saturday \ Project Montgomery with Local Churches?

Two years ago, Michael Cortez (campus minister at Dalraida) and I got together for lunch to discuss the possibility of a joint service project together during the first couple of weeks of school at Faulkner University. The previous year we had hosted a "Campus Ministry Mixer" and had agreed that we needed to take our fellowship to a deeper level. The mixer was fun but seemed very self serving and wasted a lot of money. With the help of Andrew Itson, Dennis Itson, John Gordon, Laurel Walker and countless others we came up with the idea of "Project Montgomery". Nothing really earth shattering or clever. Just a service day that involved a few hundred students all around Montgomery. The first year was a huge success. We were able to serve great ministries such as: Common Ground, Compassion 21, Agape, Family Promise, Family Sunshine Center, Exodus, Montgomery Zoo, Adullam House, Montgomery Public Schools, Friendship Mission, Salvation Army, Successful Living, and Faith Rescue Mission.
From the very beginning I was praying about being able to some day do a "Project Montgomery" at Landmark (the church I work for). This week that prayer has been answered...and more. Friday night will mark the beginning of "Faith Works Weekend" at Landmark. We will begin with 24 Hours of Prayer for our church, community, and world. The next day will be our Service Saturday (AKA Service Saturday). We currently have over 130 people signed up to participate with a lot of excitement about doing this again soon. Our staff has even joined in the work. Yesterday half of our staff went to build the bracing for a cement walk way at Montgomery Children's Center. While the other half cleaned houses and visited sick members.
As if I'm not blown away enough already...today I had lunch with church leaders from Vaughn Park CofC, Grace Pointe, Landmark, Compassion 21, and Common Ground. The topic? You guessed it...A joint community service project. Awesome! Can you imagine (even if only for one day) 500-700 Christians being salt & light in our community together?! Praise God! Think of all the professional carpenters, teachers, coaches, contractors, electricians, plumbers, etc! What could God do through hundreds of people praying for our community and then joining together to serve! Below is an email that I just received from Sid Bloomer, the involvement minister at Vaughn Park.

Brothers,

It was great to fellowship with you all today. I learn so much from
gathering together and hearing from you all. There are great ideas and one
major blessing was the idea of creating a service day that would have
multiple options. I had the intent to do this with Compassion 21 next, but
it was so much better to create multiple options and work with both
Compassion 21 and the Common Ground at the same time. This Spring is not
far away, so Nathan Capps, and anyone else who would like to help us, will
begin working on a plan and options for service for our churches for a date
to be set later on this coming Spring (after Landmark has tested the waters
with their Service Day this weekend - praise God for Landmark blazing a path
before us all). Let me say, it is great working together!

Thank you, Bryan and Jason for taking time to share with us today. We are
blessed because of it. We want to be a help and a blessing to you all. Our
hope is that we can continue this partnership with you. Thank you for
helping us grow to be more like Christ and for helping us put our faith into
action. You and Compassion 21 both are lights to our churches - shining on
things that are at God's heart and getting us focused on big picture things
- Kingdom things.

Herman Wesley contacted me and informed that he had surgery recently and had
a setback. He was not able to be a church last Sunday. Please be praying
for him. Also, Mike McElroy would have liked to have been there but he had
a community ministers meeting and was not able to make. Both Herman and
Mike stated that they want to be a part.

May God find us doing what He has called us to do.
Sid Bloomer

Wow! Let's do it!

Up to this point I have co-ordinated 300 people serving throughout Montgomery. But never 500-700 (Professionals!) We will have to be creative on what we can do to make the best use out of all our resources. I'm looking for ideas! Got any?

Btw, Common Ground also informed us that they have 3 houses side by side that will need total renovation by this summer. The idea was tossed around for each church to "take one". Praise God! We'll be down there this Saturday to do some painting, renovation, and scouting for future works. Be praying! God is moving!