From the Frontlines

The following is part of an email from a close friend who just spent a few weeks serving in Haiti with a disaster response team:

"Hey man!! I'm finally back in CR (Costa Rica). It was rough man...really bad. Jesus was there....just really hard to see. When you're overwhelmed with the destruction and despair in a place that was already hopeless, its hard to find (or hard to WANT to find) Christ. But, praise God for the opportunity. There's still a lot to do. There's a chance I'll be going back to lead follow-up teams. Thank you so much for praying for us. Your prayers mean the world to me. We flew back from Haiti on a plane donated by Hendricks Motorsports into south Florida and we had a chance to get down to Miami. The memories were incredible. I drove by your old apartment on the way down to South Beach. I drove by all the old places we used to frequent (had sushi at Yummy!). It was quite an experience to see Miami and all its wealth just 24 hours after experiencing the poverty of Haiti. But, you know, God used that moment to show me that no matter the circumstances, wealth, poverty, cleanliness, or filth, the human condition is the same....without Christ there is no hope. The people of Miami have no more hope than those in Haiti at this very moment....apart from Christ"

Please take some time this week and pray for the people of Haiti, and anyone really, who may be living life in ruins and despair...and remember, yours is the voice of hope to a world in desperate need of a Savior. God bless.

Compassion Haiti Relief

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck just outside of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, leaving the nation devastated. On Sunday, January 17 & 24, ACC will take up a special love offering at the beginning of the service that will go to the Compassion International Haiti relief efforts. All funds raised in response will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Join us as we pray for the nation of Haiti and as we work to extend compassion to those in need.

The Christmas Spirit

During the holiday season, you inevitably hear people say things like "I just can't seem to get into the Christmas spirit." It's true...we generally have certain rituals and traditions that we have to adhere to before "feeling" the spirit...Right?

For many of us, we have to hear the right music, or get the tree and lights up, or get our shopping done and the presents wrapped, and then...maybe then...we "feel" the Christmas spirit. It's like year after year, we are on a quest for a mythical beast and the wonder that we feel somehow left us in our youth.

However, do you realize that true Christmas spirit can only be found in the Spirit of God. HE IS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. It's not some mythical feeling that is to be found in music or lights, or gifts and tinsel. It's in the very wonder of His presence that dwells within those that give their lives to Him. In John 14:16-17, Jesus declares , "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

Did you catch it? Jesus said we will know God's Spirit, which lives with us and in us and will be with us forever. So, while each year we are searching for the ever elusive Christmas spirit and the wonder it brings, the Spirit - God's Spirit, is right there with us... and in us. In fact, He never left us. He's not to be found in all of the noise and spectacle that we create, but in the very heart of the one that seeks Him.

HE IS THE REASON!